E98 
.F6 W25 



les of the Bark Lodges 




By 

HEN-TOH 

Wyandot 



Published by 
Harlow Publishing Company, 
Oklahoma City. 



Copyright, 1919. 
HARLOW PUBLISHING COMPANY. 



©CU559144 

nov i2 \m 



1- 

t 



FOREWORD * 

More than a quarter of a century ago, among 
the scattered bands of the Eastern American 
Indians, were many of the older members of the 
tribe, whom we among ourselves called, "old time 
Indians." I refer to those tribes whose ances- 
tors had associated with and known the white 
man and his ways ever since the earliest Colonial 
settlements were made. 

Amalgamation with the civilized races had 
lessened the degree of Indian blood and they had 
become a civilized people. They were educated 
more or less, and were possessed of an innate 
refinement of thought and manner. They were 
reserved, closely observant, earnest and shrewd, 
'and almost always serious. With all that they 
had gained from civilization, they retained and 
cherished closely, many of their old manners 
and customs, adapting these to the ever-changing 
times. They had a marked character and indi- 
viduality of their own; and among them were 
those who, to a discriminating mind, were well 
worth knowing. 

Many of these, however much they had ac- 
quired of the ways of others, failed in their use 
of ordinary English, to the most humorous de- 



iv 



Foreword. 



gree. The greater number of them yet used 
their own tribal language, and they found it dif- 
ficult to think something out in this, and then 
transpose and express it in English. Yet, in 
spite of the many perplexities, when in the mood 
to do so, within the family, or circle of inti- 
mates, the English language was often spoken to 
the exclusion of their own. And with all their 
natural earnestness and seriousness, they would 
drive straight ahead, paying no attention what- 
ever to the strange and ludicrous quirks and 
turns they gave to English as they tried to 
speak it. 

They lived much in the past of their race, and 
they delighted to talk and tell of "the olden 
times." Lore and legend were very dear to 
them; and during the long nights of winter, the 
traditions, tales and myths, handed down from 
one generation to another for centuries, were 
often related by these older ones. 

I have always loved the old people and their 
olden tales, and in the broken dialect peculiar 
alone to the "old time Indian," I have attempted 
to give some of the old stories originally derived 
from the Lake Region Tribes. Since these have 
survived for unknown ages, and have been told 
and re-told to so many generations; and, since 
I and many of the friends I have known, have 



Foreword. 



v 



found a certain enjoyment in hearing them re- 
lated, I have tried to again re-tell some of them 
for the pleasure of anyone who may find in 
them anything to please. Perchance, even I, 
may thereby win another friend. 

I have tried also to show somewhat of the in- 
dividuality and view-point of these old people 
of the tribe; and it is to the dear memory of 
those who have long since passed beyond, and 
to the few that yet remain, that these stories and 
tales as now given, are dedicated. 

Doubtless, there will be some readers, who 
will at once say that the rights and privileges 
of "Uncle Remus" have been set at naught. 1 
say : not so ; and I believe that my life-long inti- 
mate knowledge of Indian life and character en- 
titles me at least to my opinion. Others may 
have theirs. 

I can well recall the time in my boyhood, 
when I saw the first of the "Uncle Remus 
Stories." I was delighted with them because I 
found so much in them with which I had been 
familiar from my earliest childhood. I hastened 
to call the attention of the older members of our 
family to them. And, more particularly did I 
hasten to read some of them to a dear old Aunt, 
a Wyandot woman of the old type, who lived 
with us. 



vi Foreword. 



Like myself, she was pleased with them, 
but at once said as many of the episodes were 
recognized: 

"They're Indian stories; not whiteman; 
not nigger." 
I heartily agreed with her, and while we 
both enjoyed them, we were just a bit indignant 
because, so to speak, our title had been pre- 
empted. 

Later, when the discussion was taken up by 
older and far wiser heads than mine, and when 
Professor Powell of the Smithsonian Institute 
stated that the stories exhibited more of Indian 
origin than of negro, I was satisfied as to my 
claim, and have never since had reason to doubt 
the fact of their Indian origin. 

That the origin of many of the episodes is 
purely Iroquoian, is to my mind too clear to 
admit of doubt or dispute. The Cherokee is an 
Iroquoian tribe, as is also the Wyandot. The 
Cherokees removed south at an early day in the 
history of this country and became slave-holders. 
Can it be doubted that much of their lore, and 
many of their old tales and traditions were ab- 
sorbed by the negroes? The Wyandots remained 
until years later, with their kindred tribes in the 
north, where these same stories, legends, tales, 
and traditions had been preserved, with per- 
haps slight variations among the several tribes, 



Foreword. 



vii 



for centuries. Yes, even centuries before such 
thing was dreamed of, as the coming of either 
the white man or the black man. 

Each of the many stories originally had 
some special significance which has long since 
been lost almost entirely. Their preservation 
was of tribal importance; and it was the duty 
of some of the older members of the tribe, to 
relate them to the younger ones. This had 
been an honored custom among them for untold 
ages. 

Story-telling furnished a vast source of 
amusement and entertainment, as well as in- 
struction, to the dwellers in the long bark lodges 
near the Lake shores, during the winter nights. 
Stories were never related except at this season 
of the year ; for it was the belief that the many 
spirits of nature thought to be awake and alert 
during the other seasons, would be perhaps of- 
fended at hearing so much said about them. So, 
in the long, cold, and sometimes dreary winter 
season, when all nature seemed to be soundly 
sleeping, time was often whiled away, and even 
hunger and want forgotten while listening to a 
story well told. 

HEN-TOH, Wyandot. 
Ottawa County, Oklahoma. 



I 



Contents 

1. Old Fox Goes Fishing 3 

II. A Dance and a Dinner 14 

III. Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 23 

IV. Old Fox Meets His Cousin 31 

V. Old Coon Visits the Sugar Bush 42 

VI. Old Fox and Old Coon Try a New 

Venture 50 

VII. A Pre-Historic Race 61 

VIII. The Eagle Feather 69 

IX. Why Autumn Leaves Are Red 78 

X. The Ferryman 82 

XL Old Coon Teaches the Wolf to 

Hunt 86 

XII. The Hole in the Sky 93 



I 



TALES OF THE BARK LODGES 



L 



OLD FOX GOES FISHING. 

"What you sed, Bra-ty? Yooht! You all 
a time sed tell 'em OF Ouendot story. What 
for? He's 'bout all gone now, Ouendots. 
You jus' lit'l bit, you fatha', you motha' jus' 
lit'l bit mo' Ouendot. Look, you hair jus' 
lik' a sunshine if you ketch 'im an' tie in 
bunch. Ouendot, his hair black like a night, 
an' fine, jus' lik' you sister, yonda. Eyes 
black too. He an' you motha' an' me, all looks 
lik* Ouendot." So spoke a pleasant, kindly 
looking old Wyandot woman to a little boy 
who was sitting with her before a cheery 
open fire, where a row of streaked, juicy 
red apples were slowly roasting on the 
broad hearth. 



[3] 



4 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



The boy replying to his old aunt, said: 
"Yes, I know, but Neh-ah, I'm a Wyan- 
dot even if my hair is like what you say, and 
you know I just love to hear you tell me all 
of the old stories that the little Wyandot 
children, yes, and the older ones too, 
listened to so many, many years ago. That 
was before they ever knew there was such 
a thing as a white man, I guess. I like to 
hear all about the 'olden times' you often 
tell me about, and how the Wyandots lived 
and did things then. Anyway, you know 
that as long as I can claim a little bit of 
Wyandot blood, I am an Indian, a Wyandot, 
and not a white man." 

More than just a bit pleased, the old 
aunt said to him: "Well, I s'pose it's jus' 
that way, an' it be that way too, all a time, 
with anybody what's Ouandot. Jus' say 
kin' a proud, 'I'm Ouandot.' Anyway, I tole 
you all a oP story what I think of, cause 



I 

1 1 

Old Fox Goes Fishing 5 

you all a time tell a me story 'bout nowa- 
days, an' read to me, book an' pay-pa' too, 
'bout eva'thing what's goin' on in worl' an' 
all a diffunt place. All a Injun long 'go 
use' tell 'em oF story, so young folk can 
le'rn all 'bout ol' times. Some time when 
hunta's don' got back yet with meat, an' 
mebbe so don' got much to eat in lodge, then 
jus' tell 'em story long time, an' jus' kin' 
a fo'got he's hungry. He's do that kin' in 
a winta' time. But you don' eva' much 
hungry; anyway look, we have good roas' 
apple, tzhu-u-wat, prit' soon. Well, anyhow, 
I tole you 'bout 01' Fox an' 01' Coon, at's 
his couzzen. They jus' all a time try to 
play trick on each otha' them fellas. Jus' 
like long time 'go, young fellas what go all 
'roun' diffunt village, an' jus' play trick on 
ol' witch womans, an' eva'body they could, 
an' jus' make 'em big laff all 'roun' cause 
they foolish 'em, heap all a time." 



6 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



4 'It's coP frosty mornin' long time 'go; 
winta' time. 01' Fox he's lazy to get up, 
jus' sleep long time fo' he get up an' go 
'round' to see what's goin' on. By-um-by, 
he's jus' walkin' long riva-bank, jus' sing- 
in' like to he-self, jus' like he's feelin' kind- 
a good. He's jus' come 'roun' by lit'l hill 
an' he see Coon comin' up road. He's 
carry somethin' on back, jus' puffin' lik' 
it's heavy. 01' Fox he's wonda' what's got 
01' Coon. By-um-by he's come 'long clos', 
Or Coon, an' Fox he see 'em long string, 
lots crawfish, what's carryin' 01' Coon. 

'Good mornin' Couzzen,' he sed it 01' 
Coon, 'How you mek it? What fo' you 
sing jus' like happy, this time mornin'? 
Mebbe so it's gif you bad lucks, cause you 
sing so early. Mebbe so you bettah what 
you say, cut it out' 

"OF Fox he jus' grin an' sed: 'Good 
mornin' Couzzen Coon, I jus' makin' up 
new song fo' nex' Council Fire; I don' 



Old Fox Goes Fishing 7 



tho't 'bout no bad lucks what you say; but 
what's you got, all lots a crawfish? Whe-e-ee 
'at's fine, how you ketch 'em? You jus' all 
time lucky hunter, ketch eva'thing easy; 
what makes all a time you do that way?' 

"He sed it 01' Coon : 'Oh, yes, me all 
time kill 'em ten. At's caus' you don' see 
me com' singin' on road befo' I eat 'em my 
breakfus'; an' this kin', I jus' pick 'em up 
down river. 'At's easy. Seems to me you 
can do betta' as I can, caus' you' tail it's 
long an' lots a-bushy.' 

"OF Fox he think he's make a fun 'bout 
his tail, Coon, an' sed it: 'Oh, it's good 
'nuff my tail, but you dort' sed how you 
ketch 'em crawfish ; I like to try ketch 'em. 

" 'Oh, you lik' ketch 'em/ 01' Coon, he 
say, 'It's easy, but you haf to waitin' long 
time, jus' waitin', but you don' haf to 
watchin' nothin', jus' waitin'.' 

"Fox he say, 'Well, you tell-a-me, an' I 
do what you sed, I lik' to try to-day, right 
now.' 



8 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"OF Coon he point back which way he 
come' an' he say: 'Right down on river, 
'roun' that bank, it's good place on ice, it's 
lots lit'l hole in ice, all ova'. You look, fin' 
good one, big nuff jus' put it in, you tail, 
jus' way down in water; he ain' cold much, 
water. You jus' sit there, tail in water, 
waitin' long time. By-um-by, crawfish he 
come 'long 1-o-t-s ov 'em, he get all tangle 
up on you tail, you jus' waitin' long time, 
afta' while it's feel heavy, but you jus' 
waitin' some mo' an' by-um-by when you 
waitin' 1-o-n-g time, you jus' jump quick, 
jus' high lik' you can. You tail it's be pull 
out hole, an' it's all scattah ova' ice craw- 
fish, lots ov 'em. You mus' pick 'em up 
hurry, fo' he's crawl back to that holes. 
It's sure bes' kin' fishin' I do long time. 
Sure ketch 'em plenty crawfish, mebbe.' 

"OF Fox he's jus' list'n to Coon talk 
'bout it, an' he say: 'Well, I try 'im what 



Old Fox Goes Fishing. 



9 



you sed, Couzzen, cause I lik' to ketch 'em 
mo' what you ketch 'em, crawfish; I think 
I go try now.' 

"Coon he sed: Well, you go try, I'm 
jus' 'bout froze it now, stan' here tole you 
'bout it, fishin' ; nobody don' tole me, I jus' 
mak' 'em that kin' fishin'.' Then he's go 
on, jus' lik' he's hurry, that 01' Coon. 
He's go litt'l way, an' jus' laff to he-self, 
much, cause he's jus' foolin' 'im, that 01' 
Fox; he don' ketch 'em crawfish that way, 
lik' what he sed it. 

"Fox, he's jus' b'lieve 'im all of it; jus' 
cause he's got more big tail than 01' Coon, 
he's jus' think he ketch 'em heap crawfish. 
He's go down on ice by river, jus' hurry, 
cause he's want fin' hole, so he can do it, 
that waitin'. He's by-um-by fin' it good 
one, hole, but it's col' wind blow strong, 
jus' freezin', but he don' care nothin' cause 
he's want try that waitin'. He's put in 
hole his tail, an' he's set down on ice. That 



10 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



ice c-o-1', an' jus' make sheever, jus' lik' 
eva'thin'. He's jus' think it's be good 
eatin' that crawfish, an' jus' keep on 
sheever. He's don' care fo' that kin', 
sheever, he's jus' want 'em heaps crawfish. 

"By-um-by, it's kin' pull lit'l bit, his 
tail; it's freezin' that water, but he don' 
know, he's jus' think it's much crawfish 
tangle on his tail. He's think, 'I jus' wait- 
in' some mo' cause it's what mek 'em come 
lots crawfish. I sure beat 'im, 01' Coon, 
ketch'em crawfish, then I tell 'im, I bes' 
one fishin'.' So that oP feller, he's jus' 
waitin', an' waitin' 'til by-um-by, it's his 
tail all freeze in ice; it's tight one, freeze, 
you bet'cha. 

"He's waitin' lit'l mo', an' sed to he-self : 
'It's must-a-be many crawfish now, I 
think time to jump now." So he's try to 
jump high, but it's freeze tight, his tail, 
an' jus' pull h-a-r-d. He's jus' almos' hol- 
ler, cause it's make hurt; but he's jus' 



Old Fox Goes Fishing 11 

think it's so lots of crawfish, he don' care 
fo' lit'l bit hurt. He's jus' jump h-a-r-d 
'notha' time, an' it's almos' pull it off his 
tail; then he jus' think, 'He's foolish me 
that OF Coon. He tell lie, he don' ketch 'em 
this way, that crawfish; he's jus' lie all-a- 
time. He's do me bad one, this trick; but 
I'll pay back, I ketch 'im. He's fin' out' 

"Well, anyway, it's freeze up his tail, 
all tight plenty; what's goin' do get 'em 
loose, don' know, cause it's hurt much eva' 
time he's try pull 'em. Jus' pull 'em 
h-a-r-d, it's 'bout break it, his tail. He's 
feel jus' b-a-d, now. 

"By-um-by, he's lookin' 'roun, an' see 
somethin' lik' black nose, right ova' there 
in hole, clos' to bank; then it's come up 
lit'l mo' an' it's sharp eye, too, an' 01 Fox 
he's sed: '0 Uncle Beaver, I sure got it 
bad fix, mebbe so you help me.' 01' Fox 
he's go 'head tell 'im, Beaver, what's that 
he's tell 'im do, 01' Coon. He's tell 'im all 



12 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



'bout, OF Fox. Beaver, he's jus' list'n, an' 
look like he's try hard not laff, an' by-um- 
by he's go back in water. He's swim ova' 
unda' ice, an' he's work long time, jus' like 
eva'thin', and he's get 'em loose 01' Fox, his 
tail ; then he's come up top 'gen an' tell 'em 
01' Fox : 'Now I guess you pull 'em out ice, 
you tail, my fren', an' nex' time he's tell 
you how do somethin', 01' Coon, mebbe so 
you don' list'n good.' 

"Or Fox he's list'n what say, 01' Beaver 
an' think it; but he's want do somethin', too, 
so he's sed it: 'Uncle, you come, I like fix 
it somethin' so I 'member it what you do.' 
Beaver, he jus' come ova' by OP Fox, an' 
Fox he's jus' take hands an' gatha' up lots 
lit'l sof white snow, an' he's jus' rub it 
e-a-s-y all 'roun' it's his nose, OP Beaver. 
It's jus' change color lit'l bit that hairs 
'roun' his nose, OP Beaver, an' makes look 



Old Fox Goes Fishing. 13 



nice, lit'l bit. It's jus' stay that way eva' 
since. 

"That's how he say, Old People, long 
'go it's that way." 



II. 



A DANCE AND A DINNER. 

Another evening when the Boy and Neh- 
ah were sitting before the same cheery fire, 
while outside the northwest wind swirled 
and whistled through the bare branches of 
the walnut trees, Neh-ah, knowing well 
that a story would soon be asked for, said : 

"Bra-ty, I don' tele you 'bout how he's 
went to Big Council, 01' Coon, is it? That 
ol' scamp, he's jus' know he betta' keep out 
his way, 01' Fox, lit'l while, anyhow, caus' 
he's jus' hope 01' Coon, mebbe so, his couz- 
zen he'll forgot it 'bout that craw-fishin', 
when he's prit' near los' it his tail. 

"Co'se not, he don' fo'get it, 01' Fox, an' 
he don' lole nobody 'bout that kin' fishin, 



[14] 



A Dance and a Dinner 15 



neitha' ; an' he's jus' hope Unci' Beaver 
wouldn' sed 'bout it to nobody too. But 
that OP Beaver, he's good 6Y fella, an jus' 
heap like 'im eva'body; anyhow, he's jus' 
got tell 'im his fren' that 01' Otter. 

"That OF Otter, he's jus' jolly fella, an' 
all a time jus' laff good 'bout all a kin' a 
things; an' that Beaver, he's jus' all a time 
likes to hear 'im laff big, so, jus' tell 'im 
eva' time, anything, that Otter. 

"Any-how — 

"It's jus' few days afta' 01' Coon tole 
it, his couzzen how to ketch'em crawfish, 
he sed to he-self, 01' Coon: 'Mebbe so I 
get out a way lit'l time, cause Fox he 
might try it somethin' to get even.' Any 
how it's jus' 'bout that time, it's come 
'Rah-shu,' it's what you call 'em mocca- 
sin, he's go all 'roun' diffunt village, an' 
tell'em somethin', eva'body. He sed this 
one, it's goin' be big Council way down 
'notha place. 



16 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"Or Coon he's always like to go, 
cause he's good singer, an' he's talk 
good sometimes, too. Anyhow he sed: 'I 
go, bet'cha 01' Fox he's don't be there.' 
Then he's jus' laff, an' he sed: 'I tell 'em 
all those fellas how's 01' Fox he's ketch'em 
crawfish.' 

"So's he's get ready an' he's go. He's 
fin' lots of 'em that place when he's got 
there. Somebody he sed : 'Where is it 01' 
Fox an' Turtle, it's always come them 
fellas, wonda' where is it an' why don' 
come.' But aftawhile 01' Coon tell 'em 
'bout how ketch'em crawfish, 01' Fox, he 
don' say that no mo', jus' laff good. 

'They all stay that place three-fouh 
days, talkin' 'bout lots thing, then Coon, 
he sed : 'Well, time I go,' an' he's pick up 
his lit'l drum an' start back. He's jus' 
travel 'long all day, sometime he's sing 
lit'l bit, sometimes he's talk to he-self. He 
neva' see nobody, 'til he's jus' 'bout home, 



A Dance and a Dinner 17 



when sun, he's 'bout go ova' hill; then he's 

meet Turtle, jus' comin' long slow, he's 

goin' home too. 

" < 'Kway, my f ren' !' he's sed it, OF 

Coon, What for you don' bin there, Big 
Council? We look fo' you, all time, we 

want you make good talk.' 

"OF Turtle, he sed: 'I goin' bin there, 
but jus' when I start, 01' Fox, his woman 
he come my lodge, an' he sed somethin' 
wrong 01' Fox, he's bad cross, don' like 
nothin'. He want me come see 'im, 01' 
Fox. So I tell 'im I go see 01' Fox, mebbe 
so he's sick, I doctah him. So, I go see 
him, but I can't know what's mattah with 
'im. He's jus' cross like dickens all time, 
an' it's heap sore, his tail.' 

"OF Coon he's jus' list'n an' laff lit'l 
bit, then he sed: '01' Fox, he be a'right in 
few day. I go, now, I gotta' fin' supper 
some kin'.' So he's go on. By-um-by he's 
come out of bush, right by lake, oh it's nice 



18 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



one, that lake, jus' blue watah and jus' 
clos' to sho' it's swim 'roun' lots of goose; 
he's fat one, too. 01' Coon, he's jus' look 
at those lots of goose, then he say : * Yo-ho, 
my fren's, you came, I tell it you some- 
thin'; where I jus' come, it's eva'body jus' 
sing an' dance. It's new dance. You 
fellas jus' come out on nice sand, I show 
you how do it.' It's all those goose, he 
jus' come step out on sand, jus' walk like 
soldier, long string. 01' Coon jus' take off 
belt, his lit'l drum, an' sed it: 'Well, my 
fren's, you jus' make it big ring, I stay in 
middle. I sing an' beat it drum. When I 
stop sing an' play drum, all you gooses 
jus' shut eyes tight an' dance slow jus' 
like what I showed you now.' Then 01' Coon 
he's jus' dance nice to show 'em how, all 
those goose. He say, OF Coon: 'You 
musn't stop dance 'til I begin sing 'gen, 
an' jus' keep shut all time, yo' eye. It's 



I 
I 

I A Dance and a Dinner 19 

how they dance eva'body, down that place 
I jus' come now.' 

"So all that gooses jus' make ring, like 
he's toF 'em OP Coon, an' all jus' shut his 
eye an' list'n while he's sing good, OP Coon, 
an' jus' beat it that drum. He's jus' sing: 

'Ho-he-yah, ho-ha, 

Yah-dra-wah, ho-ye-yah, 
Ho-ha, yah-dra-wah.' 

"Then when OP Coon, he quit sing- 
in', all those old goose jus' dance roun' 
slow an' easy like, all his eye jus' shut. 
Now OP Coon jus' reach out quick, 
an' grab one ol' fat she-goose, jus' snap 
his head off 'fore he could squawk, an' 
thro' it behin' him in hurry. Then he's 
sing agen, an' when he's stop sing, 
those goose jus' dance 'roun' slow like, 
an' he's grab 'notha one, fat one, an' 
quick, twis' head off an' throw behin' him, 
then he do same thing, an' get notha' one. 



20 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



But jus' when he's ketch 'em las' one, little 
ol' she-goose dancin', open one eye jus' 
lit'l bit, cause he want see if he ain't bes' 
dancer. That she-goose when he see what 
he's do that 01' Coon, jus' holler loud an' 
sed: 'Oh, he's kill us,' an' all those goose 
he's fly away, like big hurry. 

"OF Coon he's jus' laff, an' pick 'em up 
his three goose an' lit'l drum, an' start on 
to his lodge. He's think he's got good sup- 
per now. 

''While he's goin' 'long, he's say to he- 
self: 'I b'lieve I like 'em betta' roas' 
gooses.' So when he's come his lodge, he's 
fix his gooses, an' pick up lots of stick to 
make big fire, cause by-um-by it's burn 
all down an' makes good lots coal an' 
ashes, good place to roas' 'em gooses. It's 
good supper he's got now, by-um-by, soon. 

"It's w a y down 'long river, 01' Fox, his 
lodge. By-um-by he's look out an' see big 
light, big fire on hill clos' by his lodge, 01' 



1 J ' - 
I 

A Dance and a Dinner 21 

Coon. OF Fox he look, an' he say to he- 
self : 'I wonda' he's come home, that oY 
rascal, an' what for he's got big fire. I 
jus' slip 'roun' that way an' see what he's 
do.' So he's call his lit'l nephew what's 
live with him, an' tole 'im don't need to 
make fire in lodge, cause he's goin' 'way 
an' not come back 'til late. It's what he 
sed, OF Fox, an' tell 'em nephew: 'You 
go sleep.' 

"Well, 'bout that time, his fire, 01' Coon 
it's all burn down, an' make good ashes 
an' hot coal. He's take stick an' scrape all 
'way that hot coal, an' lay 'em down that 
gooses on his back, all, one, two, three, in 
row, his foot all stick up straight out ashes 
jus' like beans what's jus' come up in 
garden. 

"It's gettin' dark now, an' wind it's 
blow. He could hear 'im up in limbs on 
tree. 01' Coon, up high on rocky hill, he's 



22 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



set down by fire an' jus' lis'n. He's kin' 
tired that 01' Coon, an' it's jus' soun' easy 
that wind, an' make 'im feel sleepy like. 
He's lis'n to river down there, too, jus' 
soun's good, an' by-um-by he's jus' sleepy 
like eva'thing. So, he say to he-self: 'I 
could take it nap while it's cook, my sup- 
per, I do that 'cause nothin' botha it 'tall.' 

"It's some limbs way up high ova he 
head, jus' makin' noise cause wind it's 
blow and jus' make squeek when it's rub 
togatha that limbs. 01' Coon he's sed: 
'Hey, you noisy fellas up tha', I want 
sleep lit'l nap, you woke me if it's botha 
anythin' 'bout my supper.' He's say 
a'right that limbs, an' by-um-by that 01' 
Coon he's curl up an' sleep good, jus' 
lit'l ways from fire." 



1 1 
I 

III. 

- OLD COON SLEEPS TOO LONG. 

A stick of wood in the fire-place burned 
in two, and the sparks went flying up the 
chimney's black throat. The Boy took the 
poker and drew the other logs closer to- 
gether. Meanwhile the tall old clock struck 
off eight resounding peals, finishing with 
its usual whirr. 

"Neh-ah, it only said eight, can't you go 
on and tell me if that poor Old Coon, hun- 
gry as he was, got to eat his fine supper; or 
did it all burn up while he was taking 
such a good nap. He made such a great 
fire, I'm wondering." 

After turning to the boy's mother, who 
was sitting near by sewing, and address- 



[23] 



24 



Tales of the Baek Lodges 



ing a few words to her in Wyandot, the 
Old Aunt said: 

"No, it don' burn it up, his supper. Spec' 
he don' bin so mad if did. He no bizness 
lay there an' go sleep it so good; but he's 
jus' all a time such a smart, it' jus' good 
'nough fo' him. I tole you lit'l mo' 'bout 
it, then you go bed. 
"Well, 

"It's a'ready come up, big moon, down 
there in east; but it's jus' sleepin' yet, 
01' Coon, don' wake 'im up, nothin'. By- 
um-by, up there in rocks, 'bove where it's 
sleepin', 01' Coon, you could see 'em sharp 
nose an' sharp eyes too, jus' 'roun' edge 
of rock, lookin' down where's sleep, 01' 
Coon. Then when see he's sleep good, 
that Coon, 01' Fox he's come down, jus' 
walkin' easy, he don' step on rocks, no 
nothin', jus' walk sof an' don' mak' it 
noise. He's look all 'roun' that Fox, an' 



Old Coon Sleeps Too Long 25 



by-um-by he's see 'em that six goose foots 
stickin' out row in ashes. 

" 'Ah-e-e-e,' he jus' sed it easy, 'that's 
reason he's got big fire, 01' Coon. I glad 
I'm fin' it, an' I glad I'm come see 'bout 
it that big fire. I lik' 'em roas' gooses, an' 
I could jus' 'bout eat'em three of it. He's 
good one, hunter, my Couzzen; but must- 
a-be it's heap tired now. Too tired, can't 
eat 'em; well, I eat 'em that goose.' 

"He's look at that 01' Coon all-a-time, 
but he's jus' sleepin' good now, so Fox 
he's jus' step 'roun' easy an' get stick, an' 
scrape way ashes from that gooses. It's 
roas' nice, an' jus' smell good. It's some 
limbs up there in trees jus' sque-e-k, but 
it don' botha' him, 01' Coon. 

"Fox, he's get busy eat it that goose an' 
by-um-by it's jus' nothin' lef but pile 
bones — it's got lots meat on yet, cause he's 
jus' eat it bes' part, that Fox. He's got 
nuff fo' he's eat all of it; jus' can't eat 



26 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



no mo'. It's jus' sque-e-k all-a-time that 
limbs, but don' wake it up nothin' that 
OF Coon. 

"When he's eat all he want, that Fox, 
he pick up all-a bones an' put 'em back 
in ashes, an' he's cova' all up 'gen jus' 
lik' it's don' botha' it nothin'; an' he's 
stick it in row 'gen, all that goose foots 
in ashes, jus' same lik' he's fix it, 01' 
Coon. 

"It's lit'l pile sof ashes clos' by, an' he's 
go there, 01' Fox, an' he's jus' dance all 
ova' it, so's he could fin' it his tracks, that 
01' Coon when he's wake up. He sed it: 
<l think my couzzen he bin glad I come 
see 'im, he bin glad I don' woke 'im up, 
cause he's heap tired.' 

"He's jus' fix it eva'thin' that Fox, then 
he's go down hill towa'ds river. It's fine 
night, moonlight, an' he's jus' walk 'long 
riva-bank 'til he's feel kinda' tired and 
sleepy-like — that cause he's eat so much 



Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 27 

goose. By-um-by he's come to big one 
tree what's stan' 'way out ova' riva'. It's 
look like good place to sleep, so he's clim' 
up an' fin' good place to stretch out, an' 
by-um-by he's go to sleep. Big moon, it's 
yellow, shine jus' ova' that Fox, down 
through limbs what don' got no leaf on it, 
and make good shadow that Fox down in 
clear water; it's jus' lik' he's down tha' in 
water, that Fox. 

"Well, by-um-by up on hill, that OF Coon 
he's jus' wake up in hurry an' he's sed: 
'I guess I take good nap, mebbe.' An' 
he's jus' stretch he-self an' look 'roun'. 
He's jus' think: 'Well, I got good supper 
anyhow, must-a-be cook good now.' 

"He's go in hurry ova' to fire an' reach 
out bofe hands an' ketch holt goose foots 
to lift it out of ashes. He jus' lif kind-a 
hard, lik' it's heavy, an' he's jus' tumble 
back an' roll ova' holdin' that goose foots 
in his hand. He's jus' feel lik' funny, an' 



28 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



he say: 'I guess it's cook too much, my 
supper/' 

"He's get up an' go ova' there fire 'gen, 
an" take it out that otha' goose-foots one 
at time. He's don' know what's matter, 
an' he's jus' look lik' funny' eva' time he's 
take it out that goose-foots; then he's take 
stick an' scrape 'way that ashes, an' don' 
fin' nothin' jus' pile bones with lit'l bit 
meat on it. He's jus' much mad. an' he's 
sed it: 

" 'He's jus' bin here, some lazy thief an' 
steal it my supper. I jus' like to seen it, 
I bet I bust 'im his nose. I jus' like to fin' 
out who done it, I bet I poun' it good. 
Must-a-be it's that 01' Fox. he's the one. 
He's jus' think he's get even for that craw- 
fishin' I tor 'im how to do it. 'At jus' 
joke that one. It's m-e-a-n trick, this one. 
It's a' right for him. jus' wait I ketch 'im. 
I poun' 'im an' lick 'im good, I don' care 
fo' hund'ed snakes, how much he's holler. 



I 

i 



Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 29 

when I fin' 'im.' He's jus' get madda' all 
time that OF Coon, an' he's jus' shake his 
fist at those limb up in trees, an' sed: 
'What fo' you don' do it like I sed it, 
wake me up when I sleep it? I tole you 
that way, ain't it?' He's jus' pickin' meat 
off those bone, while he's scold it that 
limbs, an' he's jus' mad like eva'thing. 
He's jus' scold som' mo' that limb, and 
sed it: 

" 'What fo' you don' keep still now, 
you don' have to make noise, you jus' make 
me mad all a time. If don' stop you makin' 
noise, I come up tha' when I finish pick 
this bones, an' I make you stop.' That 
limb he's jus' keep on squeek, squ-e-e-k, 
all-a-time, an' it's so mad that 01' Coon 
jus' hurry an' eat that bones, so he could 
go up an' whip it those limb. 

"When he's get thro' eatin' that bone, 
he jus' look 'roun' an' by-um-by he's fin' 
it that place where he's dance, 01' Fox. 



30 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



OF Coon he's fin , it that tracks, an' when 
he's look at it, he's jus' m-a-d, some mo'. 
An' he's jus' pick on that limbs som' mo', 
an' sed it: 'I jus' come up there an' I 
fix it you fellas.' So he's jus' go up 
that trees 'til he's come to that place where 
that limb it's kin' a broke, an' it's in fork, 
an' wind it's blow an' jus' make it that 
noise where it's rub. 01' Coon, he's jus' 
take holt that big limb with bofe han's 
an' he's jus' goin' throw down. He's so 
mad he don' see that mebbe so might pinch 
'im that limbs, cause it's jus' swing. Fust 
he's know it' jus' ketch 'im his hand, that 
limb, an' jus' pinch 'im tight. Oh, it's 
hurt like eva'thing. He's jus' pull an' 
pull, that Coon, an' jus' make worse. By- 
um-by he's pull it out; but it's hurt b-a-d 
his hand. He's sure get hard time, that 
Or Coon. He's jus' slip off try to sleep 
mebbe." 



! 

| 

l 



IV. 

OLD FOX MEETS HIS COUSIN. 

It had been snowing, and outside a keen, 
sharp north wind was rioting everywhere. 
The Boy, having finished his evening chores, 
came in with some hickory logs for the 
fire-place. 

The fire-light alone lit up the room, and 
the old brass andirons glinted in its glow. 
Neh-ah was sitting in her usual place, and 
the Boy, taking his,, said : 

"Neh-ah, this is a fine evening for some 
more stories about Old Fox and Old Coon. 
I know it is so cold outside that no snakes 
or grass-hoppers or anything else will hear 
you telling them." 

"Yooht! What fo' you don' get tired 



[31] 



32 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



hear them ol' story. Jus' seem like you 
want it all a time, oF story. Guess you 
betta' go you' Unci' Jim, Canada, cause he 
could tole you that kin' Injun story, all kin' 
'til you get tired to list'n. Long 'go when 
we all young folks, we go down Gram'ma 
Hunt, his house, winta' time, an' jus' list'n 
to ol' story, lots of 'em. Was bes' one to tell 
'em story, Gram'ma Hunt. Neva' did get 
tired to list'n, an' he's jus lik' it to tole us 
that kin' too. Only was some kin' story 
jus' fo' ol' folks, he don' tole to us that 
ones. 

"What 'bout I tole you las' time? Oh, 
yes, 01' Coon he's los' it his good gooses 
suppa', an' 01' Fox he's bin fill up plenty. 

"Well, seems like when 01' Coon so 
mad an' make that big talk 'bout how he's 
lick 'im that Fox, he's heard 'im sed it, 
that Mister Skunk; so that Skunk, he's 
jus' go right now an' tole 'im all 'bout it 
that Fox what he's sed it that Coon, how 



Old Fox Meets His Cousin. 33 

he's goin' lick 'im. Then he mad, that 
Fox, and he tell 'im Skunk: 'You jus' 
see, I lick 'im that Coon, myself, first time 
I seen it.' 

"He' don' had no chance fo' few day 
tho', cause that Coon he's jus' stay at 
home, cause it's bad sore, his hand. 

"One night, it's kinda late, that Coon 
he's think, 'I guess I go ketch 'em craw- 
fish.' So he's go down by riva' an' ketch 
'em good many, take 'em his lodge an' 
have good suppa'. He don' take it no 
naps this time. 

"When he's done his suppa' he's jus' 
think, 'I take lit'l walk cause don' bin no 
where, long time.' So he's start out 'long 
riva' bank. Eva'thing jus' seem like good 
to that 01' Coon, he's jus' trot 'long sing 
low like to he-self. He's jus' like happy, 
an' jus' keep on goin'. By-um-by he's 
get sleep like, an' jus' wish he's back his 
lodge; but it's long ways, so he sed it: 



34 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



'I fin' some place take nap/ Right that 
time he's come 'long clos' by that big tree 
what he's seen it 01' Fox. Jus' grow 
leanin' ova' wata\ OY Coon, he's think it 
good place, so he's clim' up in lit'l fork 
limb. He's jus' fix good, 'bout go sleep, 
an' he's hear somethin'. 

"It's big moon yet, an' jus' bright. 01' 
Coon he's look down riva'-bank an' he's 
see it comin' 01' Fox, jus' trot 'long trail. 
He's jus' keep still, 01' Coon, like he's 
sleep; but he's look straight down unda' 
him an' he's see his shadow in wata', looks 
jus' like him. He's look at that 01' Fox 
an' he's lookin' at that shadow, too. He's 
jus' lookin' m-a-d, an' 01' Coon he's hear 
him sed it, OF Fox: 'Here it is that 
Coon, in wata' lookin' fo' crawfish now. I 
jus' slip up an' jump on 'im give 'im 
lickin'.' So, Fox he's just' slip up edge 
riva'-bank, eye jus' snappin'. He jus' 
make big jump down in wata' where he 



Old Fox Meets His Cousin 35 

think it that Coon. He jus' make it b-i-g 
splosh, an' prit' soon come up top wata' 
an' he's jus' sputtah an' blow b-i-g, jus' 
like almos' choke 'im. Then he's hear 
that Coon up in tree jus' laff 1-o-u-d, an' 
say: 'Hey, Couzzen, it's early to swim, 
ain't it? I hear Gran'fatha' Turtle he 
sed it, you musn't jump when you don' 
look, an' you mustn't be too hurry.' 

"That Fox he's crawl out on bank an' 
he's jus' sheever. He don' sed nothin', jus' 
commence pick up stick an' brushes an' 
pile it foot of tree, lit'l ways clos' to make 
fire. He's put 1-o-t-s stick an' make it 
big fire, an' when it's burn good, he's jus' 
sit down foot that tree, that Fox, jus' 
like he stay there 'till he's come down tree, 
that Coon. 

"Prit' soon, Coon he's sed it: 'My 
Couzzen, sure you not goin' set tha' long 
time. You coat lots wet, mebbe so ketch 
'em bad cold. I glad to come down talk 



36 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



to you, mebbe so gif some my tobacco to 
smoke, cause must-a-be wet yours afta' 
-you jump in riva'. I spec' I stay here 
tho', it' best one, cause I could see good 
up this tree, mebbe so somebody comin' 
long to botha' you, I seen it an' tole you 
'bout it.' 

"OP Fox he don' sed nothin', jus' set by 
fire, back up 'gainst tree, an' jus' keep it 
shut, his mouth. It's hard work tho', that 
kin'. That Coon he could drop in wata' 
an' get 'way; but he jus' think he's stay in 
tree an' talk an' foolish 'im his couzzen. 
By-um-by, he sed it:* 'Well, I sleep it lit'l 
bit now.' So, he's curl up an' sleep it. 

"Afta' long time he's woke up. It's 
shine bright, big moon, 'way high. He's 
look down an' its settin' by tree yet, that 
Fox, jus' soun' sleep it. Coon, he's jus' 
slip down e-a-s-y, 'til he's clos' to that 
Fox. He sleep it good, could heard 'im 
snore. Coon, he's jump easy down on 



Old Fox Meets His Cousin 37 



groun'. He don' move nothin' that Fox, 
sure 'nough sleep it. He's bad one, that 
OF Coon, he's jus' take it long one, stick, 
dry leaf on end, an' he's tickle it his nose, 
that Fox; but he's so sleep don' botha' him 
jiothin'. 

"That bad one, 01' Coon, he sed it to he- 
self : 'It prit' good chance, mebbe so I make 
it 'notha' tricks on my couzzen.' 

"So, he's jus' slip 'long down by riva'- 
bank where he fin' it lots sticky mud, it's 
red. He's get big one, chunk, that muds 
an' jus' spread on flat rock, an' put it on 
wata', jus' stir lit'l bit an' make it heap 
sticky, jus' like what you call it, moh-lass. 
Then he's took it that muds an' jus' rub 
all ova' his face, that Fox, put lots that 
muds on his eye. He's jus' step back lit'l 
bit, that Coon, an' look at him, that Fox, 
an' he's jus' laff good to he-self, an' sed 
it: 'My poor couzzen sure have good 
time to wash it face in mornin', if it's dry 



38 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



good that muds. I spec' I start home now, 
mebbe so it's time.' 

"Well, he's started that 01' Coon an' go 
lit'l piece, then he's jus' roll ova' on groun' 
an' jus' laff big at that Fox 'till he's tired. 

"It's 'bout gone that moon, jus' comin' 
daylight in east, when he's woke up that 
Fox. What's matter? He's woked up sure ; 
but can't see nothin', can't open it his eye, 
not jus' lit'l bit. He's jus' stagger an' 
run into stump an' bush, jus' fall down, 
almos' tumble in riva'. It be good thing- 
he did, cause soak it up that muds; but 
he don' done it. 

"He's jus' rub it that dried muds but 
he don' come off, an' eye jus' stick 'em 
tight shut, can't open. He's sure bad fix 
this time, an' jus' m-a-d like dickens. Jus' 
sed it all a bad name could think of 'bout 
that 01' Coon, jus' cuss him heap, I guess. 
It's don' do no good that kin' tho'. 



Old Fox Meets His Cousin 39 

"Well, he try to find path go to his 
lodge, but jus' get tangle up in briar- 
patch, an' it's stuck 'im all ova'. It's b-a-d 
lucks fo' him that Fox, sure. He jus' don' 
know what do nex'. So, he's jus' set still 
lit'l bit, study what do. Prit' soon he's 
hear, tap, tap, tap, on dead limb 'way up 
high his head. He's list'n 'gen an' heard 
it, tap, tap, tap. 

" 'Yoh-ho, my fren' ' he's sed it, 'come 
here, got big trubble me, mebbe so you 
could he'p it.' 

"It's come fly down hurry, that lit'l 
speckle wood-pecker bird, an' sed it: 
'What's matter, my fren', what I can do 
he'p it you now?' 

"Fox he say: 'I like to have you tried 
it, pickin' this dry muds off my eye, so's 
I could see how open it my eye.' 

" 'Mebbe so, it's too much sharp my 
bill,' it's sed it that wood-pecker bird. 'I 
pick 'em prit' hard, but I see what I do, I 



40 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



don' hurt you, I can he'p it.' So it's go 
to work, wood-pecker bird, jus' set on end 
his nose, that Fox, an' pick 'em e-e-a-s-y 
as can, but it's sure make 'im come blood, 
cause it's s-h-a-r-p that wood-pecker bird, 
his bill. Well, that Fox he could see how 
open it his eye, prit' soon an' jus' looks 
good to him, eva'thing. That lit'l bird 
tell 'im to washin' his face good in riva'. 

"That 01' Fox, he's feelin' kin' a good 
'gen, an' jus' thank it that wood-pecker 
bird an' sed it: 'What I can do fo' you, 
my fren', cause you sure do big he'p with 
me?' 

"That lit'l wood-pecker bird he sed it: 
<Oh, my fren', long time I jus' wish I 
could had it on my head, lit'l spot, red, 
jus' 1-e-e-t'l one spot, not big one like he's 
got Great Wood-pecker, Quank-quank- 
queh." 

"Fox he's sed it: 'That good, my fren', 
I fix it that lit'l spot, red one.' So he's 



Old Fox Meets His Cousin 41 

took it some blood on his face where it's 
drop down, an' he's paint it lit'l spot, red 
one, on his head, that lit'l she wood-pecker 
bird. It's jus' stay there, too, that spot, 
eva' since. 

"Oh, he's so glad that lit'l she wood- 
pecker bird, jus' fly up in tree an' try his 
bes' sing, but can't do it much. Well, he's 
got it red spot anyway, an' jus' lots happy. 

"That Fox, he's jus' trot off on trail 
'long riva' an' try to think what could do 
get even with him, that Coon." 



V. 



OLD COON VISITS THE SUGAR 
BUSH. 

The Father had been mending a crack in 
one of the Mother's treasured old maple- 
wood bowls, made more than a century 
ago by a Wyandot, when the tribe lived in 
Canada, along the beautiful Detroit. 

The Boy having watched the work of 
pouring the melted lead into the broken 
place in the bowl, turned to his aunt and 
said: 

"Neh-ah, you and I will make sugar this 
year. We'll tap the trees down along the 
bluff, and have some real maple syrup. We 
can take our lunch every day and have a 



[42] 



Old Coon Visits the Sugar Bush 43 



sure enough camp. You can tell me stories 
while we boil down the sap." 

Neh-ah nodded assent and replied : 
"Yes, that jus' like you, always think 
some way to get story. Anyhow, I don' tole 
you yet, what he's do nex' OF Fox an' Coon, 
an' what you talk 'bout 'minds me of it. 
He's always make it maple-suga' Ouendots. 
It's lots a work, too, but' he don' care fo' 
that. Could jus' keep 'im busy do somethin' 
all a time. Don' had no clock, no ah-man-ac 
them days, tell 'em how much time gone. 
I spec' don' get oF so quick, peoples them 
days." 

"Well, days bin get lit'l long, sun he's 
start go back north. It's time come bright 
night an' frosty mornin', an' kin' a warm 
sunshine day-time. It's jus' 'bout time go 
sugar-bush, those people; tap tree an' 
mak'em maple sugar. Jus' make lots of 
it, put in mo-cocks, use in winta' time. 
It's kin' a hard works mak'em sugar them 



44 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



days, cause got to mak'em lots trough, 
birch-bark, ketch'em sap. He's got b-i-g 
trough too. mak'em out a big log. Don' 
had no kettle them days; jus' have to put 
'em hot rock in big trough: but he don' 
care fo' nothin' them peoples, don' care fo' 
hundred snakes, "cause he's jus' got lots a 
times, them days. Don' got no times do 
nothin' now days. 

"Jus" 'bout this time year, he's jus' like 
it to follow them peoples to sugar-bush, 
that Coon. He's alway jus" like it. poke 
'roun' in sugar-camp, come night, an he's 
sleep it them peoples. That 01' Coon he's 
jus' 1-i-k-e it to put k his nose in trough 
an' drink it lit'l bit sap. s-w-e-e-t one. He 
like it good that sap. an' sometime if he 
don' found it in lit'l trough, he's try to get 
one drink out a that b-i-g trough. It's 
hard to do that one tho\ cause mebbe it's 
prit' hot that sap in big trough, an' it's 



Old Coon Visits the Sugar Bush 45 

always jus' keep cover up that big trough, 
with nice boa'ds, white ones, jus' make it 
out a lin-wood, them peoples. 

"Afta' he's put it on that Fox that dry 
muds, it's long time no seen each otha' that 
Fox an' that Coon. He jus' thought it, 
01' Coon, it's prit' near even to him, that 
Fox; an' mebbe so he won't try nothin' 
notha' kin' tricks. He don' want see 'im 
tho', an' jus' keep out a way, cause he 
might try mak' 'notha' tricks on 'im, that 
Fox. It's jus' go on that way fo' days, 
an' 01' Coon jus' 'bout think: 'Well, I 
guess mebbe so he's fo'get it, that las' trick, 
my couzzen.' 

"But that Fox, he don' fo'get it nothin', 
no seh. He's prit' sharp, an' he jus' all a 
time got it, that what you call 'em — 
'watch-full-a-waitin'.' He's know it 01' 
Fox, 'bout his couzzen all a time likes to 
foolish 'roun' that sugar-bush, when that 
peoples he's makin' sugar, an' he's know 



46 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



it how he like it to drink that sap, heap 
s _ w . e _e-t. So, he's just keep it, his 'watch- 
full-a-waitin,' an' when Skunk tole 'im: 
'01' Coon not home, bin gone three-fou' 
days/ that Fox jus' sed it: 'I spec' mebbe 
so it's gone sugar-bush, my couzzen, I 
guess I go see/ 

"Well, he's start that Fox to go sugar- 
bush. It's fine days an' when gets there, 
jus' see all a peoples heap busy, work. 
Fox he's jus' slip 'roun' edge of camp, all- 
a-time he's lookin' fo' sign of that Coon. 
He's look 1-o-n-g time, an' by-um-by he's 
fin' tracks 'long edge, lit'l branch, that 
Coon, he's bin lookin' crawfishes, mebbe so. 

"It's late in evenin', while he's sleep it 
some place that Coon, 01' Fox he's jus' get 
busy. Afta' that peoples he's gone to all 
lit'l ones, trough, to get it, sap, Fox he's 
come 'long behin', an' he's jus' turn it, 
bottom up, eva' one that lit'l trough. Then 



Old Coon Visits the Sugar Bush 47 



he's go look in big trough. It's prit' near 
full sap, it's hot. 

"So, he's sne-e-k roun' some mo' an' 
watch it good oP squaw cover it big trough, 
all good with that white boa'd. He's jus' 
watch it 'roun' 'till it's all fix it, eva'thing, 
an' them peoples it's all sleep it. Then that 
Fox he's slip up by big trough, an' jus' push 
it two that boa'ds, lit'l 'ways' part. 

"Well, he's jus' push it ova' them two 
boa'ds 'til end of it right on edges ov big 
trough. It's smell good that sap, prit 'near 
mak' 'em Fox want some he-self; but he 
don' botha' it, 'fraid might ketch 'im his 
own trap, I spec'. When he's all done fix 
it, that Fox, he's jus' go lit'l ways, hide in 
bushes an' watch for him, that Coon. He's 
wait long time, an' by-um-by he's hear it 
comin' somebody, jus' grumblin' to he- 
self. It's that 01' Coon, an' Fox he's hear 
him sed it: 'Wonda' what fo' so steengy, 



48 Tales of the Bark Lodges 

them peoples; jus' turn 'em upside bottom 
all lit'l trough. Can fin' lit'l bit sap. 
Mebbe I could get drink on big trough if 
don' turn it upside bottom, too.' 

"OP Fox he's keep it still, jus' kin' a 
chuckle tho', cause he knows goin' ketch 
'im that trap what he fix it fo' 01' Coon. 

"That Coon jus' come pokin' long slow 
like, till he fin' it that big trough. He's 
jus' walk all 'roun' kin' a easy, jus' sniffin' 
an' lookin' fo' crack. Fox he's fix it chunk 
right front where he's fix it that boa'ds, 
an' that 01' Coon he's jump on that chunk, 
his nose stick up in air, an' jus' get good 
whiff that saps. It's kin' a hot. Well, he's 
set on chunk lit'l bit an' jus' lookin' 'roun'. 
He don' seen nothin', then he's jus' make 
'notha' jump an' he's lan' right on end ov 
that boa'ds whats he push it ova' that Fox. 
That boa'ds he's jus' slide ova' otha' way 
queek, an' that 01' Coon he's jus' go ker- 
plum in that hot saps. 



Old Coon Visits the Sugar Bush 49 



"Them boa'ds make big rattle noise an* 
it's wake 'im up that good OP Squaw. He's 
come out lodge see what's matter, an' come 
by that big trough jus' time he's crawl out 
01' Coon. He's got big stick in his han' 
that squaw, an' jus' hit that Coon good 
whack on side when he's run 'way. He's 
jus' go hurry, 01' Coon, an' by-um-by when 
he's go thro' bush, somebody sed it: 'Hoh, 
Couzzen, you like it to take good wash in 
hot sap, ain't it? Mebbe so ain't good 'nough 
wata'." 



VI. 



OLD FOX AND OLD COON BOTH TRY 
A NEW VENTURE. 

"Neh-ah, you said there was one more 
story about Old Fox and Old Coon and that 
it was a long one, too. Now, this evening 
while everyone else is gone and just you 
and I are sitting by the fire, won't you tell 
it to me? I'll go down cellar and get some 
of those apples we like so well, and we'll 
have a regular party." 

After his return with the apples, and 
after putting some hickory logs on the fire, 
the Boy seated himself in his accustomed 
place and waited for the story. 

"I wonda' what's goin' do when it's all 
gone, story. If you bin live long time 'go, 



[50] 



They Try a New Venture 51 



ol' mans they took you, an' jus' make story- 
tella' out o' you, so you could tell 'em all a 
young mans when you get be ol' man. Now- 
days jus' have book an' noose-paypa' an' 
eva'thing an' write down. It's seem funny 
to Injun first time he know that kin', jus' 
think white man make paypa' talk. Mebbe 
so you could write it somethin' story, some 
day, then won't have tell 'em, just could 
read it, anybody. 

"Las' time, that 01' Coon jus' bin foolin' 
'roun' suga'-camp, aint it? Good fo' nothin' 
just spoil it all big trough sap fo' that poor 
oF Injun woman. Anyhow, 'bout that time, 
spring jus' begin think 'bout turnin' ova'. 

"Them days jus' get some mo' long. 
South wind, he's come now an' make it 
all broke up ice in riva' an' jus' go float 
'way. It's kind a blue smoky all 'roun' an' 
you could smell it that brush an' leaf it's 
bin burnin', caus' it's garden patch clean up 



52 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



them peoples. Buds on tree it's swell up 
an' no mo' peoples in sugar-bush, all gone 
back to village. Prit' soon plant corn patch, 
when leaf on hick'ry tree 'bout big as squir- 
rel, his ear. 

"That Coon don' seen it, 01' Fox, since 
time 01' Coon he's fall in big trough. Some- 
body sed it he's gone make visit with fren' 
'way down end of lake, 01' Fox. 

"Coon, he's jus' study all a time how 
get even on that Fox fo' las' trick he's bin 
play. Jus' think all kinds, cause he's want 
make 'em bes' trick yet on that Fox, cause 
he's prit' mad to him yet. 

"Well, South Wind he's drive it all 'way 
that snow an' ices, even that patches 'long 
north side hills. Early mornin' you could 
heard it lots wild gooses and duck. Jus' 
go, 'honk, honk,' like what you call it — 
auto'bile, when jus' go 'long road like 
dickens, an' seen somethin' in road, now- 



They Try a New Venture 



53 



days. That goose an' ducks he's comin' 
back from south, an' he's jus' stop ova', 
visit few days all long. Could fin' it lots 
good eat in marsh 'long riva', jus' 'fore it's 
run in lake. 

"OP Coon an' eva'body jus' glad to see 
come back, an' jus holla' to him somethin' 
when he's fly ova. He's all a time glad 
ketch 'em two-three, too, if he could do it, 
foolish 'em or somehow. 

One day, sun mo' than half ova', OP 
Coon he's start out try to ketch 'em goose. 
It's lots of 'em down marsh, an' he's want 
try new way ketch 'em. He's jus' slippin' 
'long e-a-s-y like, riva'-bank, an' he's meet 
'im Lit'l Fox, it's his nephew, OP Fox. He's 
live with 'im, his uncle, an' he's treat 'im 
mean, all a time, that uncle. Jus' make 
'im work hard, that po' lit'l nephew, an' 
feed 'im nothin' 'cep' scraps. Eva'body 
know that kind, an' jus' feel sorrow fo' it, 



54 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



cause that uncle jus' whip it an' mean to 
it all a time. He's prit' near starve', you 
could count it his rib, an' jus' few hair on 
it, his tail. Seem like, all a time, he's goin' 
dodge somethin' that lit'l fella'. 

"His garden-patch, 01' Fox, it's good 
one, beans, pumpkin, eva'thing all good; 
cause that nephew an' his aunt jus' work 
it plenty. 01' Fox, he don' work lit'l bit, 
but he's just' all a time brag it that garden- 
patch, an' he's always tole it that nephew : 
Took care of it my garden-patches.' 

"Well, that time when he's met 'im 01' 
Coon, that Lit'l Fox, he's look like he feel 
prit' good, that lit'l fella, an' he's tole it to 
01' Coon, his uncle bin gone on visit 'way 
down lake. 01' Coon he's always feel sor- 
row for 'im, that lit'l fella', an' jus' all a 
time be good to him. Jus' take him go 
hunt, an' showed it an' tole it lots a things 
'bout how to hunt. He's tole 'im tho' musn't 



They Try a New Venture 



55 



tell 'im you uncle, cause it jus' make 'im 
mean 'to lit'l fella' some mo\ So, when he 
seen 'im that time, Or Coon, he's sed it: 
'Well, Lit'l Fella', my couzzen, what you 
look fo' this time, is it come home you 
uncle?' 

"Lit'l Fox he's say : 'Mebbe so he's come 
back tomorro' mornin'. Mr. Skunk he's 
tole him las' night, my aunt, when he's 
stop lit'l bit by our lodge. We bin all clean 
up garden-patches, an' I jus' think I go 
hunt it some game.' 01' Coon sed it: 
'Well, young fella', jus' stayed by me. I 
got good way, new one, try to ketch 'em 
gooses, make 'em good one dinner, bofe of 
us, mebbe.' Lit'l fella, he sed it: 'Uncle, 
you all a time make good one, hunt, good 
one ketch 'em, all a time kill 'em ten, I 
spec' so we ketch 'em heap this time.' 

"So, they jus' trot 'long togetha' an' 01' 
Coon jus' 'splain 'bout that new way ketch 



56 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



'em gooses. He's goin' fin' it lit'l bunch 
gooses what's bin eat plenty, an' jus' swim- 
min' 'roun', prit' clos' to sho'. Cause if he 
belly full, he don' think 'bout nothin' botha' 
'im, he's sed it, that Coon. He's got long 
rope, lit'l one, what he's made out sof 
bark. It's stout one, too, an' he's tie on it 
that rope, three-fou' slip-knot. When he's 
fin' it lit'l bunch gooses, he's goin' dive in 
wata' an' swim unda' where's that gooses, 
an' put it that slip-knots ova' his foots, 
many as he wants them gooses. Jus' jerk 
'em quick 'an' swim to bank an' pull 'em 
in them goose. 

"Well, afta-whiles they fin' it lit'l bunch 
of gooses, an' that Coon he's tried that new 
way ketch 'em. Prit' soon he's got three 
of it, jus' like he sed it. It's su'ah good ketch 
'em that way. They jus' go on some mo' 
an' by-um-by seen it 'notha' lit'l bunches 
goose. He's swim it close to bank. OF Coon 

m 



i 



They Try a New Venture 57 



he sed it: 'Lit'l Couzzen, you like tried it 
this time? It's good chance.' So, lit'l fella' 
he's take that string an' he's go afta' it that 
gooses, an' prit' soon he's swim to bank jus' 
pullin three fat goose. He's jus' feel b-i-g, 
that lit'l fella, an 01' Coon he's jus' glad fo' 
him too. 

"So then, start home an' 01' Coon sed it: 
'To-morro' go' gen, lit'l fella', cause won't 
stay long now them goose, jus' go north. I 
come by you lodge when sun jus' pass mid- 
dle, an' we go ketch 'em some mo' lots a 
gooses mebbe.' 

'Nex' day 01' Coon he's go down by that 
place what he sed it; but he ain't there, Lit'l 
Fox. He's wonda' what's matta' lit'l fella, 
don' come. He's look prit' soon an' seen it 
that lit'l fella' jus' workin' hard in that 
garden-patches. Coon he's jus' whistle low 
like, an' that lit'l fella' he's heard it an' he's 
come down there where is it OF Coon. 



58 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"Coon, he's sed it: Well, what's matta'? 
Le's go ketch 'em gooses 'gen.' That lit'l 
fella's he's jus' look sorrow, an' he's tell it, 
01' Coon, can't go, cause his uncle, it's come 
home. He say his uncle ask 'im how he's 
ketch it that gooses, an' when he tole him, he 
sed it why don' ketch 'em mo', he sed it his 
uncle : 'I could eat all of it that many my- 
self.' Lit'l fella' sed it, I tole 'im I go 'gen to- 
day, but uncle jus' say, he go he-self, an' tole 
him lit'l fella' get long rope, stout one, bes' 
he could find, cause he's goin' try ketch 'em 
gooses, he-self. So lit'l fella' say he got 'im 
good rope fo' his uncle, an' that uncle he jus' 
went down to'wa'ds lake to tried it his lucks. 
He tole him, lit'l fella' to stayed home an' 
clear out 'notha' garden-patches. That Lit'l 
Fox he's jus' look sorrow, an' that Coon he's 
list'n to him, an' jus' thinkin' lit'l bit. 

"By-um-by they jus' heard it 'way down 
by lake, b-i-g squawk noise, an' lots a honk, 



They Try a New Venture 



59 



honk, soun' like lots a auto'biles, I guess, jus* 
soun' funny, like holla' lots a gooses. Jus' 
bofe stop talk an' list'n. Seems like comin' 
close by, so that Coon an' lit'l fella' jus' run 
top lit'l hill, it's close by, where could see 
betta' down on lake. It's look that way, an' 
could seen it b-i-g bunch gooses, jus' fly eva' 
which way an' down low, jus' make lots a 
squawkin' an' honk-honk noises. That Coon 
an' lit'l fella' jus' look at each otha', like say, 
what's matta'?' Prit' soon it's kin' a strat'en' 
out that bunch a goose, jus' fly mo' high up, 
an' then start out fly comin' this way. When 
it's come lit'l close, looks like they could seen 
it somethin' hang down, jus' swingin' like, 
unda' that bunch a gooses. Jus' comin close 
now, 'bout fly right ova' where it is that Coon 
an' Lit'l Fox. Then they seen it, what 'tis; 
it's that 01' Fox. That rope it's tie tight on 
his middel, an' it got lots goose foots tie on 
it too. He's jus' swingin', looks like ridin' 



60 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



good. When he's go by close, he's just holla' 
1-o-u-d, that OF Fox an' sed it: 'Nephew, 
took good care my garden-patches/ an' jus' 
keep right on ridin' f-a-s-t. 

"OP Coon, he's try it not to smile, an he's 
say : 'Well, Lit'l Fella, I guess mebbe so, he 
tied it too much goose foots on his string, 
you uncle, he's got prit' good string seem 
like. It's new way travel, but I spec' he go 
long ways an' fin' it new place, mebbe so. 
I spec' not come back, long time, mebbe so 
betta' go some tell him, you aunt.' 

"That OP Fox he's prit' smart, afta' all, 
I spec' mebbe so he's first one ride on airy- 
plane, ain't it?" 



VII. 



A PRE-HISTORIC RACE. 

"Neh-ah, in the last story, Old Fox was 
certainly 'right up to date/ wasn't he? He 
had an aeroplane with a motor that couldn't 
go dead on him, and besides, he had a honk- 
honk that could scare everything out of the 
way. Now that there aren't any more 
stories about Old Fox and Old Coon, I won- 
der what you are going to tell me next. 
I'll read you some more of the 'Arabian 
Nights' and you can think up some others." 

"Well, that good, but spec' betta' tole you 
'notha' one tonight, cause jus' bin think 
'bout it today, when you tole to me 'bout it 
that air-ship race, you read in noose-pay- 
pa'. That one 'mind me 'bout it, and jus' 



[61] 



62 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



think it all ova' this afta'noon while I'm 
piecin' quilt. 

"It's 'bout one o' you great-gran'fathas I 
'spec/ 'cause you b'long to Big Turtle clan, 
jus' same as me and you' motha', an' our 
motha', cause all a childrens have to b'long 
same clan as motha'. Long 'go, always bin 
lots a good chief an' warrior in Big Turtle 
clan. He's leader long 'go, way back, don' 
know how many hund'ed years. Lots oY 
story tole 'bout it. Big Turtle he's hoF the 
world on his back fo' long time. Some day 
I tole you 'bout it. 

"That 01' Turtle, he's the one, he smart 
all a time. He jus' same since long time 
'go, all a time know it what do. He can't 
scared him nobody, an' can't beat 'im 
nothin'. He's eva' time come out 'head. 

"That why, long time 'go, 01' Buffalo, 
he's eatin' 'roun' clos' edge of timber. He 
don' hungry, he's jus' bite ova' here, ova' 



A Pre-Historic Race. 63 



there. By-um-by he see 01' Fox in bushes, 
he sed it: To-ho, my fren', come ova' 
here, I like tell you this.' 

"01' Fox he's lit'l smart too; he's crawl 
out trap e-a-s-y; he's hard to fin' it, too, 
sometime you hunt fo' him. He's jus' 
wonda' what's want 01' Buffalo, an' what's 
got say; but he's come ova' there, jus' 
jumpin' easy, an he's sed it: 'Well, my 
big fren', what you got say?' 

"01' Buffalo, he says: 'My friend', I got 
make race with Turtle. You kind a smart, 
an' you got sharp eyes, you be judge, see 
who beat 'em. You tell him, 01' Turtle, 
I beat 'im on a groun' or in a water, jus' 
how he like, I don' care nothin'. You tell 
'im come tomorro' ova' there by lake when 
sun come up jus' 'bout high as sycamo' 
tree. You tell eva'body an' he can come 
see race. I be down there, you tell 'im 
that, 01' Turtle. He's always best one, 
eva' time; but I don' think he could run, 



64 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



it's too short his legs. Mebbe so he's run 
good in water, tho\ Me too, I could run 
fas' in water or anyhow, I bet I could beat 
him." 

"OF Fox, he says: 'I tell 'im OF Turtle 
an' I tell 'im eva'body. I go now.' So 
he's go down by his lodge, OF Turtle, an' 
tell 'im all what he sed it, OF Buffalo. 

"That Turtle, he's jus' list'n an' don' say 
somethin' for long time. By-um-by he 
say: 'That's good, I run race on water. 
First one come to that island ova' there, 
he's the one what beat. You tell 'im, OF 
Buffalo, I be on han'. I don' say jus' what 
I'm do, but I do 'im. To-morro', when sun 
shine good, I come.' 

"Fox, he's go back tell 'im, OF Buffalo, 
what say OF Turtle. All what he see on 
way, he tell 'em 'bout race. He sed it: 
'You tell 'em eva'body, you tell 'em come.' 

"Nex' day, ain't sun-up yet, OF Wolf 
he's go down by lake. He's make it fire, 



A Pre-Historic Race. 65 



make smoke jus' go straight up, so can see 
eva'body, an' by-um-by, all come. 

"Prit' soon he's come along, 01' Turtle; 
jus' come slow an' go down clos' to edge 
wata'. He don' say nothin', jus' go slow, 
lookin' 'roun'. Buffalo an' Fox come too, 
an' bofe jus' talkin' all a time. Then come 
eva'body, Deer an' Bear, Coon, he come 
too. Turkey, Prai'chicken, Duck, an' 
Quail, Hawk he's tha' too, an' Little Turtle, 
Snipe, an' 01' Beaver, Porkypine, Snake, 
an' Mud-Turtle ; it's come eva'body, I guess. 

"While dey all jus' talk an' visit 'roun', 
Buffalo he's go down where 01' Turtle he's 
settin' close to edge wata', he sed it: 'Well, 
my fren', you 'legs prit' short, but I beat 
you this race, I think.' Turtle he don' 
say nothin', jus' lookin' 'cross lake to 
islan'. Buffalo sed it: 'You say we race 
on wata', I tell my fren' Fox be judge. 
It's high rock right ova' there, so Fox he's 



66 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



dim' up an' set down, an' he could jus' 
seen it, eva'thing.' 

"Buffalo sed it: 'Well, it's re'dy. Wolf, 
you howl it, an' hit it three time quick on 
drum, an' we start.' Wolf, he say, 'AF- 
right,' an' he took he place. Prit' soon he's 
howl, an' hit it three times on drum quick ; 
they gone. Buffalo he's swim fast to'ads 
islan'. Turtle he jus' slip in wata', an' 
can't see him, nobody. He's go jus' like 
that warboat you tell it 'bout on otha' side 
Big Water; that Gemmany Keeza sum- 
ma-rine, unda' wata', an' when Buffalo 
jus' lit'l mo' an' half-Way, swimmin' fas', 
01' Turtle jus' crawl out slow on sho' of 
islan'. Eva'body looks funny, an' Fox he's 
say : 'Turtle he's beat 'im.' 

"Beaver' he's try it an' Turtle he's beat 
'im. Nex' Deer he try; he's 'way behin' 
an' Turtle crawl out on islan'. Coon he's 
sed it: '1 sure can beat 'im, I re'dy now.' 
He's jus' got start, when Turtle crawl out 



A Pre-Historic Race. 



67 



on otha' side. Well, then Turkey say: 'I 
want beat 'im.' He can't do nothin'. 
Turtle he's right on islan' when Turkey 
he's come. Prai'chicken he say: Tm 
good racer, I could beat 'im' ; but Turtle 
got tired waitin' for him on islan' befo' 
Prai'chicken got tha' an' start back. Quail, 
he's whist'l big, an' sed it: Tm the one 
could beat 'im, Turtle.' Turtle neva' sed 
nothin', jus' get re'dy. They start an' 
befo' eva'body don' heard Quail, his wings 
any mo', 01' Turtle he's crawl out on 
islan'. 

"Fox, he's got tired sayin' 'Turtle's 
beat 'im'; so he sed it: 'You can't do it, 
nobody. You can't beat 'im, Turtle. He's 
good racer in wata' cause he's all a time 
good swimmer. All what's got beat, mils' 
gif to him somethinV 

"Well, all them fellas what's got beat, 
Buffalo, Deer, Bear, Raccoon, Turkey, 
Prai'chicken, an' Quail, they jus' cut it off 



68 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



lit'l bit they own meat. They gif to him, 
Turtle, jus' one piece to time. Turtle he's 
took it each lit'l bit when they gif to him; 
don' sed nothin', jus' eat all of it. 

"Then Fox he's sed it something 'gen: 
'Long as he live that Turtle, it be jus' 
same; if them peoples kill 'im an' roasted 
it or make 'em soup, it's tasted jus' like 
all a kinds game meats. Turtle, he's take 
it first place, at head all kin's animal. He 
wise an' brave, an' he don' all a time talk, 
he's do somethin'.' 

"Turtle, he don' seel nothin'. Jus' ten' 
his own business, don' buck in nowhere. 
Don' botha' nobody. It was that way. 

"But Turtle he's don' tell it them peoples 
that ol' Turtle, his brother, look jus' like 
'im, live on that isian'." 

— Hen-toh. 



VIII. 



THE EAGLE FEATHER. 

"That race you told me about was a 
good story, Neh-ah, anyway that's what I 
think. Can't you think of another one 
about Old Turtle to go with it?" 

"It's jus' all a time that way. I tole you 
one an' you jus' want it 'notha' one kin' 
a like it. Some day it's goin' be all gone, 
story, what goin' do then?" 

"Oh, let's don't think about that, I know 
you've got a whole lot of them yet, and if 
you do run out, why I'll just ask for some 
of the best ones, and you can tell them 
again. I never get tired of listening to any 
of them." 

[69] 



70 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"Yooht— you jus' like that 01' Turtle, he 
jus' get the best of 'im eva'body. Don' 
botha' him nothin' an' he's jus' all a time 
go on an' 'ten' to his own bizness. He don' 
worry 'bout it somethin', he's jus' think it 
out some way eva'time to come out 'head, 
an' he's do it too. I spec' that's why he's 
good leader, cause he jus' all a time list'n, 
an' lookin' an' thinkin' fo' he-se'f. 

"Well, I tole you 'bout eagle featha'. 
It's bes' kind like 'em, Injun. Long time 
'go, can't wear it eva'body; womans, he 
don' wear 't all, an' young buck he couldn't 
wore it 'till he's do somethin' big. 01' 
time it's that way. Nowdays, jus' stick 
'im in his hat, eagle featha' all a Injun, 
an' any body. Jus' same like that iron 
crosses what he's gif to all he so'jers, that 
Gem-men-ny Keezer, you read me 'bout 
'em in paper. 

"It's this way he's get it, eagle featha', 
first time, Injun. It's long 'go, jus' com- 



The Eagle Feather. 



71 



mence worP I spec'. It's ol' man an' he 
nephew live togetha', jus' them two, it's 
ail a people, them days. OP man he's jus' 
.stay in lodge all a time. Young fella' 
he's go out get it, game, hunt. Well, one 
time come back lodge, don' get it nothin'. 
Uncle he's ask 'im what's got, an' young 
fella' sed it: 'Nothin V Next day it's same 
way, an' jus' same way, 'notha times. It's 
three time, then when come back, young 
fella', an' his uncle sed it 'gen, that young 
fella' sed it: 'I pull it out eagle featha',' 
an' sure 'nough, he's got it that featha' in 
his hand. OP man he's jus' shook it, his 
head an sed it: 'Oh, it's a big danger.' 

"So he's tole young fella' hang it that 
featha' in smoke hole, top of lodge. He's 
do it, an' prit' soon they seen it that eagle 
fly slow like, ova' that smoke hole. He 
don' got that featha' tho'. 

"OP man, he's sed it 'gen: That's a 
big danger, must call animals to Council. 



72 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



Mustn't let get it, Eagle, that featha'.' So 
young fella' he's go tell 'em come to Coun- 
cil, 'bout that danger. By-um-by they all 
come; Big Turtle, Otter, Skunk, Porkypine, 
an' all of 'em. 01' man tell 'em,' 'We musn't 
let Eagle an' his fellas take it way from 
us that featha'.' He's pick out his crowd 
to hoi' it that featha'. All them animal 
jus' talk heap 'bout what he can do. Some 
run fas', some could hide good, an' some 
could jus' make it big noise to scared it 
anything. 01' man he's tol' Deer don' want 
'im, cause can't run fas' 'nough. He don' 
want Wolf, he's too much howl, an' Bear 
cause he's too much all a time sleep it. 

"He's pick it out Big Turtle, Porkypine, 
an' some mo' fo' he side. Prit' soon they 
seen it, Eagle jus' fly low ova' smoke hole, 
'gen. Some them fellas what he don' take 
it, 01' Man fo' his side, jus' get mad to 
him, an' sed it: 'We goin' he'p it, Eagle.' 



The Eagle Feather. 



73 



"Turtle, he's slip 'roun' an' got it that 
featha', an' tole it his men: 'Le's go.' 
They start off lit'l ways an' come to big 
tree. Turtle sed it: 'Le's clim' up.' So 
all of 'im clim' tree. They look 'way off 
an' seen it comin' Eagle. Jus' 'bout that 
time it's come big wind. It's rotten that 
tree, an' jus' broke it an' fall down. They 
jus' go eva' which way, all them fellas. 
Porkypine, he's all cover up with rotten 
wood, but he's chawed it 'way an' crawl 
out. Mebbe so that's why he's all a time 
like to chawed it rotten woods, Porkypine. 
An' he's kin' a hurt too, lit'l bit, Porky- 
pine, so, when Turtle say: 'Le's go, 
hurry,' Porkypine say he can't travel. 
Then he's tole 'im Turtle. 'Get on my back, 
an' he's give him basket ashes to scatta' 
on his tracks, that Turtle, so can't fin' 
trail, nobody, them otha' fellas. 

"He's got it that featha', Turtle. Well, 
it's started all of 'em. Turtle, Porkypine 



74 



Tales of the Baek Lodges 



on he back, they las' one. Porkypine he's 
jus' get it busy scatta' ashes on Turtle, his 
tracks; but shucks, it don' hide 'em track 
't 'all, jus' make easy to see it trail. 

"They jus' go on hurry, an'way, an' 
it's prit' nea' get to riva', when he's heard 
'em comin', Eagle an' his bunch. Jus' 'bout 
edge of wata', Turtle, an' they jus' holla, 
'Who-o!' an' jump out an' ketch 'em that 
Turtle, Eagle, his bunch. They try to take 
it 'way Turtle, that featha'; but can't do 
it. Turtle got it in he mouth an' can't 
let it go, an' won't give up that Turtle, 
e'tha'. 

"So he sed it, them fellas: 'We fix it, 
01' Turtle.' An' one of it jus' make it 
fire an' when it's burn good, they jus' 
pick 'im up Turtle an' carry 'im bottom 
side up top, an' jus' hoi' him ova' fire, 01' 
Turtle sed it: "Oh that such a nice, I jus' 
like it that kind, plenty hot, don' took me 
out a fire my fren's, I like it.' Them fellas 



The Eagle Feather. 75 

jus' mad an' sed it: 'It don't hurt 'im 
fire, le's took 'im out, whip 'im.' So they 
take it out fire, an' some fellas get good 
sticks an' jus' beat 'im, Turtle, on his back. 
Turtle jus' commence sing, jus' like it was 
beatin' drum, them fellas, an' jus' seem 
like a happy. He's mad some mo' them 
fellas, an' Turtle he's got it yet that 
featha'. 

"Somebody sed it: 'Le's throw 'im in 
riva'.' So they pick him up an' start do 
that. That Turtle he's jus' scream, an 
sed it he's 'fraid a wata' an' 'jus' beg 'em 
not put 'im in riva'. He's jus' push back 
an' holla' an' don' want go 'fall, jus' mak 
'em big fuss. Them fellas jus' glad then 
to heard 'im, an' sed it: 'We jus' throw 
it in deepes' wata' we could find.' An' 
sure 'nough they jus' pitch 'im that Turtle, 
'way out in deep wata', ka-zowey. They 
could seen him sink down bottom of riva' 



76 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



an' layin' on his back, like dead, but he's 
got that featha, yet. 

'■Well, them otha' fellas think its dead, 
Turtle; but prit' soon they seen 'im swim 
out 'cross riva' an' clim' up on big log, 
an' he's jus' wave that eagle featha' an' 
jus' give big war-whoops. 

"So, them fellas hold council, an' they 
sed it: 'Somebody mus' go get it, that 
featha'; but don' want go nobody, cause 
'fraid of wata'. By-um-by talk some mo', 
an' send it, Otter. He's swim out that 
log quick, an' Turtle, he's jus' set there 
an' hoi' it up that featha'. 'Bout time 
Otter he's get there, an' goin' crawl on 
that log, Turtle, he's drop in wata' on otha' 
side log. He's go unda' log prit' quick on 
otha' side, 'gen, an' he's bite on end Otter 
his tail. Then jus' go 'roun' an 'roun' that 
log Otter an' Turtle. That Otter he's jus' 
holla'; 'Ow-we-e, he's hurt me, ow-we-e!' 
Prit' soon that Turtle, he's bite off piece 



The Eagle Feather. 



77 



tail an' Otter, he's get 'way, hurry, an' 
swim to sho'. 

"Turtle, he's get on log 'gen an' wave 
that eagle featha' an' jus' whoop 'em heap. 

"They couldn't beat 'im nobody, that 
Turtle, that's cause he's bes' one yet." 



IX. 



WHY AUTUMN LEAVES ARE RED. 

A WYANDOT MYTH. 

It had been a clear winter's day, not cold 
and with just enough bright sunshine on 
the first light snow that had fallen. The 
boy had been out in the woods with his 
dog; and down in a sheltered place along 
the bluffs, he found some dog-wood shoots 
yet bearing their brilliantly colored leaves. 
Gathering some of these he had brought 
them home and placed them in an old silver 
flagon that stood on the mantel-piece. They 
made a wonderful bit of bright, cheery color 
in the room. 

[78] 



Why Autumn Leaves Are Red. 79 



Of course he called his Aunt's attention 
to them, for he well knew how much she 
liked bright bits of color. 

He saw her look thoughtfully at their 
scarlet and crimson and was all interest, 
yet not surprised when she said: 

"01' Ouendots use' tell story 'bout how 
come leaves get prit' color in fall times, Not 
long one, story, but jus' kin' a nice. Cou'se 
it's 'bout some animals, cause seems like 
long time 'go they was live first, 'fo' peo- 
ples. They somethin' like peoples, too, I 
guess, cause they do so much things all a 
same like. 

"Didn't I ever toF you what's reason it's 
red an' color, all tree leafs in fall time? 

"Well, it's like this one: Long 'go when 
it's all fix it up, Sky-land, by Little Turtle, 
Deer, he's got in hurry an' went up tha' 
'fore it's all fix it fo' animals. It's jus' 
make 'em mad, all of 'em, cause that Deer 
he's all a time such hurry to buck in. 



80 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"Afta' while when it's all ready eva- 
thing, Bear, it's his time to go up there, so 
he's go up by that nice road what he's fix it, 
Little Turtle, an' when he's got up tha' prit' 
soon, he's meet 'im, Deer. He's sed to him : 
What fo' you come here so hurry, fo' he's 
tol' you, Little Turtle, it's ready?' Deer, 
he's awfu' proud like, an' he's jus' shook his 
head, an' sed it: 'Nobody but Wolf could 
ask that to me, he's the one to sed it, not 
you.' An' by-um-by, he's sed it 'notha' 
'gen: 'I'll jus' give you whippin', Bear, 
cause you such a smart,' an' that Deer his 
eye jus' like fire, an' hair on his back, jus' 
stan' up straight cause he's mad. 

"Bear, cause can' 'fraid him nothin', 
he's jus' stan' tha' waitin' fo' that Deer to 
jump on him, I spec'. 

"Then Deer start it. Bear jus' growl big, 
make loud noise, jus' like shake sky, an' he 
sharp claw jus' tear that Deer, an' Deer, 



Why Autumn Leaves Are Red. 



81 



his sharp horn an' foot jus' cut that Bear. 
They fight long time an' make big noise. 
They could heard it them otha's down on 
Great Island. Then they sent him up that 
Wolf to stop it that fight. 

"Wolf, he's get up tha' an' he's got hard 
time to make stop it that big fight, that Deer 
an' Bear; but he's do it prit' soon, an' when 
that Deer, he's run 'way, his horn jus' all 
drippin' with blood, that Bear's. That blood 
jus' fall down on tree leafs on Great Island, 
an' make it all red color. It's that way yet, 
ev' time come 'roun' that time they fight 
it, that Deer an' that Bear, leafs jus' get 
that way, red. 

"They sed it long 'go, 01' Ouendots." 



X. 

THE FERRYMAN. 

When this story was finished, the old 
clock hadn't yet, as Neh-ah sometimes re- 
marked: "He's sed it, eight." 

The Boy was ready with another sug- 
gestion, and said: "Now Neh-ah, you've 
told me such a good story about the red 
leaves, I think you'll have to tell an- 
other about a rabbit. Old Jolly and I 
brought home seven. You'd hardly believe 
it, but Jolly run one into a b-i-g hollow red- 
oak that stands down on the hill-side. Some- 
one had cut a hole in one side of it and I 
crawled in; and down in the old hollow 
roots running all 'round, I kept pulling out 
rabbits until I had seven. Mebbe we won't 



[82] 



The Ferryman. 



have a pot-pie, and Til sell some of them in 
town, too." 

Neh-ah listened smilingly to the Boy, 
then said: "Well, guess can't cross riva' 
no mo' nobody, cause must a be you kill all 
the ferrymans. You don' give 'im no good 
chance or mebbe so they foolish you like he 
don' to one fella, one time. 

"I didn't tell you hefo' 'bout Rabbit, is it? 
He's live long time 'go down on riva', an' he's 
got good canoe, an' jus' took 'em eva'body 
cross riva', like what you call it, ferry-boat, 
aint it? 

"Well, one time Rabbit, he's sittin' down 
on riva' bank, jus' singin' an' waitin' like, 
an' prit' soon he's holla' somebody, otha' 
side of riva'. Rabbit, he's look and seen it, 
01 Wolf, so he's jus' don' make no 'tention, 
jus' keep on singin' like don't heard nothin'. 
That Wolf, he's mean one, all a time want 
kill 'em somebody, an' Rabbit he don' like 
'em. 



84 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



"Prif soon Wolf sed it: 'Hey, you fella' 
you feet it's crooked out, come took me 
'cross riva'.' 

Rabbit, he's jus' ke'p on singin', and' by- 
um-by he's say : "Long 'go, I all a time dance 
plenty at feast, 'at's why it's crooked out, 
my foots." 

"Wolf sed it: 'Hey, you fella, it's got 
1-o-n-g ears, jus' stick it up straight, come 
took me 'cross riva'.' 

"Rabbit, he say: 'My ears stick it up, 
'cause long 'go I could wear many eagle 
feather, ain't it?' 

"Wolf, he sed it: 'Hey, you fella', it's 
split you lip, come take a me ova' riva'.' 

"Rabbit, he say: 'It's that way my lip, 
cause long 'go, I whistle much at big dance, 
ain't it?' 

"Wolf, he's jus' mad now, an' sed it : 'Oh, 
you jus' brag heap, all a time, I get you 
now.' Then he's jus jump in riva' an' 
swim cross. Rabbit he's run an' Wolf, he's 



The Ferryman. 



85 



took afta' him. He's run long ways an' jus' 
gettin' tired, but Wolf, he's comin', he's prit' 
close now. Rabbit, he's come to hollow tree, 
an' he's jump in hole, jus' time Wolf he's 
goin' ketch 'im. 

"Wolf, he's mad, an' he's jus' goin' stand 
by that hole till that Rabbit, he's come out, 
n'en he ketch 'em sure, so, he's stay right 
tha'. Rabbit he's rest lit'l time, n'en he's go 
out notha' hole an' go back to his canoe. 
L-o-n-g time afta' Wolf, he's get heap tired 
that what you call it, watch-ful-a-waitin', 
an' he's go back down riva'. He's look otha' 
side an' seen it that Rabbit sit on his canoe, 
jus' like bin tha' all a time. 

"That's time he don' ketch 'im Rabbit, 
that 01' Wolf, ain't it?" 



XI 



OLD COON TEACHES THE WOLF TO 
HUNT. 

Neh-ah and the Boy were sitting just in 
the fire light one night when the old woman 
said: 

"You jus' always like it to hear 'em so 
much story 'bout 01' Fox an' OF Coon, I 
jus' happen today, think of 'notha' one kin' 
a like it. 'Tain't OP Fox tho', cause he's 
gone an' I don' eva' hear if he's come back. 
Mebbe so if you heard it some day 'bout 
his come back, you could tell that story. 
But that 01' Coon he jus' always took eva' 
chance what come 'long to play trick on 
somebody. 



[86] 



Old Coon Teaches Wolf to Hunt 87 



"Any-how, I tole you this story jus' same 
way you Unci' Jim Clark use' tole it long 
'go in Canada. He was good one to tole 
story, only some-time he jus' put in lots a 
cuss words like he all a time seel it white- 
mans. Them Injun boy long time 'go 'at's 
jus' first thing learn Inglis', it's the cuss 
words. I guess it's cause in Injun langwige 
they don' got none, cuss words. 

"It's long time afta' he's gone that Fox, 
one day 01' Wolf he's prowlin' 'long riva' 
an' he's meet 'im that Coon. 01' Coon he's 
bin on visit 'way out west to pra'rie peoples, 
an' he's bring it home big bund'l buffalo 
meat. He's just eatin' piece when he's come 
'long 01' Wolf. 

"Wolf he's sed it: 'Hello, my Couzzen, 
what kin' meats you eat 'em, an' where you 
get it? I don' had no good meats fo' long 
time, it's kin' a sca'ce now days, ain't it?' 

"OP Coon he's jus' kin' a grin, an' gif to 
him piece of meat, that Wolf, an' he's sed it; 



88 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



'Oh, it's a buffalo meats what I got. I ketch 
'em that kin' buffalo out on pra'rie, where 
I bin few day. It's lots of it there, buffalo, 
an' it's kin easy to ketch 'em that kin' too.' 

"Wolf, he's jus' eatin' an' it's sure taste 
good that meats. Prit' soon he's say: 'How 
you sed it's easy to ketch it that kin'? He's 
big' one than you are, an' could run fas'. I 
don' see how you make it easy to ketch 'em 
that kin'.' 

" 'Well,' Coon sed it, 'I could tole you 
how it's easy to ketch 'em, you wants to tried 
it. He's big one, but he's easy to 'f raid, an' 
when he's heap 'fraid, he's jus' scare to 
death, jus' run 'til it's kill himseP.' 

"Wolf he's say: 'You ketch 'im that 
way?' 

" 'Yes, I ketch 'im,' he sed it Coon. 'I 
jus' tole you all 'bout it an' you could tried 
it an' ketch 'em good, then you have lots a 
good meats. You could start f o' pra'rie prit' 



Old Fox Teaches Wolf to Hunt. 89 



soon an' come to edge, long 'bout dark come, 
jus' befo'. You jus' look 'roun' good an' fin' 
it bunch buffalo, eat 'roun' close to bushes. 
You watch 'em 'n' afta' whiles its tired eat 
it, an it's lay down sleep it. When he's good 
lay down sleep it, you jus' go 'long easy, slip 
up behin' an' you jus' tied it, that buffalo, 
his tail 'roun' you-see, you middel. It's 
long hair on his tail, that fella'. You mus' 
tied it good, so can't slip off, cause if slip 
off, he's turn 'roun' jus' step on you, sure. 
When get it tie up good, you jus' make big 
noise — whoo, whoo. Buffalo he's so scare 
he's jump up an' run, an' you jus' took good 
ride, cause you jus' go with 'im, an' jus' all 
a time go whoo, whoo. That buffalo he jus' 
run heap, he's so scare, an' prit' soon he's 
jus' drop dead, then you mus' cut it, his 
throat, an' you got heap good eat.' 

"Wolf, he's jus' list'n, an' he's sed it: 



90 



Tales of the Bark Lodges 



" 'It's soun' good, I guess mebbe so; I 
tried it, Le's go, you jus' watch a me, I 
kill 'em buffalo.' 

"So Coon he's go long, an' they start it 
for pra'rie. It's 'bout dark when they gets 
to edge of timber, an' right clos' by seen it 
bunch buffalo. Wolf an' Coon jus' lay down 
rest lit'l bit, an' watch it that buffalo. Af ta' 
while it's got 'miff eat it, an' jus' all laid 
down to sleep it. 

"Wolf, he's jus' feelin' prit' good an' he's 
pick it out big fat, she one buffalo. Well, 
when he's sleep it good that ol' she one, 
buffalo, Coon tell him betta' go now, an' he's 
slip out easy an' he's tied he-se'f good to 
that she one, buffalo, his tail, an' when it's 
all tie up tight, Wolf, he's jus' go holler: 
'Whoo, whoo.' That she one, buffalo, he's 
'fraid plenty. He jus' jump up an' holler: 
'Br-a-a-h, bra-a-ah,' an' jus' go run, he so 
scare, jus' like what's say white peoples: 



Old Fox Teaches Wolf to Hunt. 91 



'scare like hell.' He sure run fas' an' that 
Wolf he's jus hoi' tight on his tail, that she 
one, buffalo, an' jus' ride fas' too. Eva' once 
while, buffalo jus' kick 'im in ribs an' 01' 
Wolf he's go up in air. Prit' soon he's gone 
out a sight, buffalo an' wolf. 01' Coon he's 
jus' kin' a chuckle an' sed it to he-self: 'I 
guess mebbe so, my couzzen, he's get prit' 
good ride, now, won't get back fo' many 
moons, mebbe so, spec he's go 'long ways." 

"But that Wolf, he don' ride such long 
time, cause that she one, buffalo, he's come 
to big mud hole, wide one, an' jus' 'bout time 
he's get middel that mud hole, he's make 
big kick an' that Wolf, he's break it loose 
from tail, jus' go up in air, an' come down 
tchi-wash in that sof muds. He's kin' a 
glad too, cause don' want it no buffalo meats 
now. He's crawl out mud hole kin' slow, 
cause prit' sore, an' start off kin' a limp, an' 
he sed it to he-self: That Coon he's don' 



92 Tales of the Bark Lodges 



say how long got to ride it, that buffalo. I 
guess he's jus' make it foolish with me. 
Nex' time I don't tried it what he say. 

It's jus' same kin' he's always foolish 'im 
that 01' Fix. He's bad rascal that Coon. 



XII. 



THE HOLE IN THE SKY 

OR 

HOW THE SUMMER BECAME 
LONGER. 

"Well, I guess that Old Coon never did 
stop playing his pranks. I only wish that 
more of his tricks had been told in other sto- 
ries, for it is sure fun to listen to them." 
So the Boy said one evening when he was 
not quite sure that Neh-ah had another 
story for him. He was right pleasantly sur- 
prised when she at once said : 

"I goin' tell you 'notha one Unci' Jim's 
story. OF Tah-too-tahn-yoh, he's oF 'Jib- 



[93] 



94 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



way man what's marry to Ouendot woman, 
an live 'mongst our people in Canada, long 
'go. Lots a boys jus' go down his house 
winta' time an' he's tell 'em 6Y story, some- 
times prit' near all night. They jus' pitch 
in an' cut it lots wood fo' oF man an' he's 
tell 'em oF story. It's good story, this one, 
I like it my-se'f. 

"Long time 'go, oY people use tole 'bout 
it, it's jus' col' all a time, prit' near. I think 
mebbe so, it's that time, faint very 6Y world, 
cause it's them days, peoples and animals, 
jus' kin' a all a same like, sometime they be 
peoples, sometime some kin' animal, jus' 
what kin' they like. They know how to do 
eva'thing them days, got power, jus' like 
what call white peoples now, witch, I guess, 
anyhow, could do jus' what want do, any- 
thing. 

"Well, it's them days, good hunter, he's 
lodge not far from Big Watah; but it's no- 



How the Summer Became Longer. 95 

body live clos' by, jus' him an' woman, an' 
got one boy, lit'l fella, jus' 'bout half way 
grown to man. It's big country, lots tree, 
big ones all 'roun' where he's live, that hunt- 
er. He's got strong power, could prit' near 
do it anything. Sometime he's man, an' 
sometime he's that lit'l kin' animal what 
dey call it, Fisher, jus' kin' a like that Otter, 
at's his couzzen, an' kin' a looks like 'im, but 
he ain't that big. That 01' Otter, he's kin' 
a funny fella', he's jus' all a time, laff an' 
sing, ^an' have good fun. He's all a time 
talk heap, too ; but he don' sed nothin' much, 
jus' talk. He's good fella, tho, an' jus' try 
to do it anything what tell 'im, somebody. 

"That hunter he's all a time kill 'em heap 
deer, an' eva' kin' a game, so, jus' have 
plenty to eat. That woman, he's good one, 
too, jus' take care that game what he's kill 
'em, dried that deer meat an' smoke 'im, an' 



96 Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



make that fine buck-skin fo' moccasin an' 
leggins. 

"They jus' like 'im, heap, that lit'I fella' 
too. That hunter he's make 'im good lit'I 
bow an' arrows, an' showed 'im how hunt 
bird an' squirrels; an' that woman, he's 
make 'em lit'I moccasins an' leggin' an' 
huntin' shirt. Snow shoes too, cause it's jus' 
plenty snow that country all a time. It's 
that way them days, jus' col' an' snow prit' 
near all time. 

"That lit'I fella' he's jus' go hunt by him- 
se'f an' bring 'em back to lodge, bird an' 
squirrels; but he's jus' get prit' near freeze 
it eva' time. His finger jus' 'bout freeze it, 
an' can't shoot good, an' sometime jus' make 
'im mad, an' jus' cried, cause it so cold, don' 
know what do. He's jus' wish it don' be so 
much freeze it an' cold fo' so many days. 

"Well, one time, that lit'I fella', he's bin 
hunt, an' jus' comin' back to lodge. Oh, it's 
col', an' that lit'I fella', he's 'bout froze 



How the Summer Became Longer. 97 



it now. He's comin' 'long, an' he's seen 
it, squirrel, it's sit on bush lit'l way 
'head, it's eatin' somethin'. He's wonda' 
that lit'l fella' why don' run, squirrel, an' 
he's jus' fix it his arrow to shoot it. 'Bout 
that time, that squirrel, he's sed it : 

"Grandson, mustn't shoot it, me. Put it 
down you bow cause I got somethin' to sed 
to you. You jus' list'n an' you do what I sed 
it. Long time I seen it you don't like it heap 
col' an' snow, I seen you huntin' an' jus' 
can't help it, cry some time, cause heap col'. 
It's too plenty col' all a time, anyhow, I 
don' like it too. Nov/ I tole you what do, an' 
we fix it mo' summa' time. You f atha', he's 
strong power, he could do it prit' near any- 
thing. When you get you lodge, you mus' 
jus' cry-in' all a time. Yo' motha', he's want 
know what's matta', you jus' don' sed 
nothin', jus' cryin', an' cryin' heap. Jus' 
keep it cryin' all a time 'til he's come, you 



98 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



fatha' ; then when he's ask it what's matta' 
don' sed nothin' fo' long time, but jus' cryin' 
an' cryin' jus' likes feel so bad, can't sed 
nothin'. Then afta' whiles, you tell 'im: 
'Me, I don' like it too much col' all a time, 1 
jus' want mo' summa' times.' Jus' sed it : 
'Oh, my fatha' can't you have him, some- 
body, make it mo 'summa' times, an' don' 
have it so much col' an' snows. Oh, I don' 
like it so much col'.' 

"So, that lit'l fella' he tole 'im, squirrel, 
he do that way, an' he's got to lodge, he's 
jus' cryin' an' cryin', jus' like it hurt some- 
thin' but don' know what. He motha' ask 
it what's matta', but jus' shook head an' 
don' sed it nothin', jus' push 'way what's 
want 'im to eat it, his motha, an' jus' keep 
cryin 'til it's come his fatha', then he's do 
jus' like what's tole 'im that squirrel. 

"Well, he fatha' sed it: 'My son, I try do 
that what you sed it. It's much hard thing 
to do, but I tried it, cause my son want it 



How the Summer Became Longer. 



99 



that kin'.' So that lit'l fella' he's stop it 
cryin' an' eat it what gif to 'im his motha'. 
That Fisher sed it, he mus' make feast an' 
call council for his frens'. Nex' day they 
cook it whole bear, an' sen' word to Otter. 
Beaver, Lynx an' Badger to come that 
feast an' council. Well, afta' whiles, it's 
come eva'body, an' had it big eats ; then all 
a them fella' jus' sit 'roun' an' prit soon 
smoke it, peace-pipe, then jus' talk 'bout it, 
what's got do. 

"Afta' talk 'bout it long time, all them 
otha' fellas' sed it they go with that Fisher 
an' he'p 'im. He sed it, they go in three 
days. Time come that Fisher he tole it 
goodby, that woman, an' lit'l fella', 'an he's 
jus' feel heap bad, cause he's know mebbe 
so he don' seen it no mo'. 

"Then he's start all of it, an' jus' go on, 
don't meet 'im nothin' 'til 'bout twenty days, 
it's come to foot of high mountain. Jus' 



100 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



could look up as want to, an* can't seen it 
top, it's h-i-g-h, that mountain. They fin* 
it tracks, like kill it somethin', somebody, 
jus' while 'go; you could see bloody, an' that 
track goin' up mountain. That Fisher he 
sed it, 'betta' follow it that track, mebbe- 
so fin' it somethin' eat it.' So, jus' followed 
it, track, an' prit' soon, come to lodge. Fish- 
er, he tole em, mus' be still, don' laugh 'fall. 

"'By-um-by, they saw oP man stan' in 
door that lodge. He's jus' crooked eva' 
which way, jus' all twist up. He's got b-i-g 
head, an' funny kin' teetch. jus' all stick out 
an' he don' had no arms. Them fellas' they 
wonda' how he could kill 'em anything. That 
of man he's ask 'em come in his lodge, cause 
it's jus' 'bout night, come. 

"That ol' man. he's strong Monedo, he 
could do anything. Well, afta' whiles oF 
man he's bring out big bowl meat, an' he's 
jus' gif ' to them fellas' some fo' their suppa'. 



How the Summer Became Longer. 101 



He's jus' move 'roun' heap funny, an that 
Otter, he jus' can't he'p it, an prit soon he's 
laugh. That Monedo, he's jus' look at Im, 
an' jus' jump on him goin' smother 'im, 
cause it's that way he's kill it anything. But 
that Otter, when he's felt oF crooked man 
light on he's head, he's jus' slip out from 
unda' 'im an' he's jus' run out door an' get 
'way; but that Monedo he's sed it bad fo' 
'im that Otter. 

"Rest of 'em they eat, an' smoke an' talk, 
prit' near all night. That oP man he's tole 
Fisher he could do what's he's want do ; but 
it's a hard one to do, an' mebbe so, it's kill 
'im. He's tole 'im which way to go, an' sed 
it fo' them to do like he sed it, an' if follow 
that road, it sure take 'em right place. Whe' 
he's tole 'em all 'bout jus' what to do it, eva'- 
body sleep it lit 1 time. 

"Come nex' mornin', started go on. Jus' 
gone lit'l ways an' meet it tha' Otter, he's 
'bout freeze it, an' kin' a hungry; but that 



102 Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



Fisher, he's took 'long some that meat what's 
gif to 'im that oP crooked man, so that Otter 
he's eat it. He don' laff this time. 

"Weir jus' travel ever day 'till it's 'bout 
twenty days 'gen, an' they corne to that 
place what's tell 'em' bout, that Monedo. 
It's the highest mountain, yet. Have to 
clim' long ways fore get to top, but they get 
up tha' an' jus sit down rest and smoke it, 
peace-pipe, cause got to do that kin' ask 'im 
Great Spirit, he'p 'em. Jus' put it tobacco 
in that pipe, an' hoi' it up to sky, then to 
no'th, an' east, an' south, an' west, then to 
earth then smoke it. It's so high up that 
mountain, that looks like sky right tha', 
an' think, an' look all 'roun' fo' long time, 
an' afta' whiles, that Fisher, he sed it, 'We 
mus' get ready,' an' he's tell 'em, 'We got to 
make hole in sky.' He's tole it that Otter 
try it first. Jus jump up 'gainst it hard as 
you can, mebbe so break it hole. Otter, he's 



How the Summer Became Longer. 103 



jus' kin' a laff, an' sed it, 'I tried it, mebbe 
so/ He's jus' jump hard, jus' hit that sky 
so hard it's jus bounce 'im back, an' prit' 
near knock stuffin' out that Otter. He's 
fall on snow right on he's back, an' it's kin' 
slick that snow, an' that OP Otter he's jus' 
go slidin' like eva'thing, clear to bottom that 
mountain. I bet he's neva' travel that fas' 
'gen. When he's come to bottom, he's shake 
he-se'f, an' sed it, 'I think mebbe so, I gone 
home, I don' like make it that jump 'notha' 
'gen/ so he's jus' pull it out fo' home. 

"Well, that Beaver, he's tried it, an' it's 
fall down all a sense knock it out that fella'. 
Then Lynx, he's tried it an' it's jus' all a 
same kin', jus' laid tha' like's dead. 

" 'Now,' he sed it, Fisher, to Badger, 
'You tried it, it's strong, you people an' 
could do heap.' 

"Badger he's jus' tried hard, an' it's 
knock 'im back that sky, but don' hurt 'im, 
so, he's jus' jump up an' he's tried it 'notha' 



104 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



'gen. This time, its look's kin' a like it's 
crack, that sky, so, Badger, he's jus' puff 
up b-i-g, an' he's jump, like a white peoples 
sed it: 'jus' like a hell.' It's bust hole in 
sky an' Badger he's go through an' that 
Fisher, he's jus' jump in right afta' 'im. 

"Them two fellas' jus' look 'roun' an' oh, 
it's fin' place, jus' like a prairie, could see 
f-a-r, an' it's plenty grass, plenty tree, 
plenty all kin's flower. Jus' lit'l stream run 
eva' which way, lots a birds jus' ever kin* 
prit'y ones jus' singin' ever direction, oh it's 
jus' like a nice eva'where. Right ova 5 tha' 
they seen it some good ones' lodges an' way 
ova' good ways off could seen it lots a peo- 
ples jus' playin' ball, havin' good time. 

"Don' seen nobody in them lodges but 
could see lots mo-cocks an' baskets an' it's 
all jus' full all kin' birds, prit'y ones. That 
Fisher he's jus' think of that lit'l fella' an' 
they jus' cut it open them mo-cocks an' bask- 



How the Summer Became Longer. 105 



ets all they could an' let it out all those kin' 
birds an' all of it jus' go big bunch an' fly 
down that hole in sky what's made it Bad- 
ger. An' all that warm weather what's 
'roun' tha' it's go down that Hole too, an' 
jus' spread out all 'roun'. Prit' soon them 
peoples way ova' tha' they see it them fellas' 
what's doin' an' jus' come run ova that way; 
but time they get ova' tha' it's 'bout all gone 
through that hole, all a summa' time weath- 
er, jus' 'bout lef ' nothin' cep' its tail, an' one 
fella' he's come runnin', an' he's hit it with 
big club, an' jus' broke it off tail; summa' 
time 'bout to went through that hole. 

"That Badger, when he's seen 'em comin' 
them fellas' he's jus' run fo' that hole but 
that Fisher, he's jus' keep on lettin' out lots 
mo' bird fo' that lit'l fella', an' he's stay 
too long, that hole it's growed up an' can't 
get through. Well, he's jus' strike out run- 
nin' cause to get 'way from them otha' fel- 



106 



Tales of the Bark Lodges. 



las', an' he's run fas'. Frit' soon he's come 
to tall tree an' he's dim' up. They come, 
them fellas', an' shoot at 'im, arrows; but 
that fella' you couldn't hurt 'im if you hit 
'im, jus' one place arrow could hurt 'im, jus' 
'bout one inch end of he's tail. Prit' soon 
one arrow hit 'im on that place. It's prit' 
bad. He's look down tha' an' seen it one 
them fellas', he's got totem same like what 
he's got. So, he's holla to him, this fella', 
an' he's tole 'im, 'you my couzzen, tell' em 
don' kill me.' When dark come them fellas' 
quit shoot, an' that Fisher, he's come down. 
He's feel prit' bad, cause it's bleed heap. So 
he's start crawl 'long to north, mebbe so he 
fin' hole in sky he can go through; but he's 
jus' keep travel 'til he's 'bout give out, don' 
fin' none. So, he's stretch out his legs, his 
head to no'th, an sed it: 'Well, I did that 
what's want, lit'l fella'. It's make it betta' 
fo' all of it peoples, have mo' summa' times 



How the Summer Became Longer. 107 



now, mebbe eight o' nine moons, summa' 
time, then he's jus' die. Them fellas' 
fin' it nex' day, stretch it out dead. You 
could see it in sky now, it's tha' yet. White 
peoples call it that stars, Big Bear." 




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